Minerva Lake
Minerva Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 222 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 222 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Burnett County
Minerva Lake is a 222-acre mesotrophic lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Burnett County, Minerva Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Minerva Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Minerva Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Water Temperature
Minerva Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Minerva Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 222 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Minerva Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1995. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.15 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.32 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Minerva Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Minerva (completed 1937), built primarily for recreation on the LOON CREEK; gravity-type dam, 14 ft tall and 70 ft long.
- Surface area
- 245 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 43 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Burnett County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00242 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Minerva Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Joint Water Quality CommissionSwiss, Town Of · 1.9 mi away · NPDES WI0063797
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 30 lakes in Burnett County
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Minerva Lake
What is the water quality grade for Minerva Lake?
- Minerva Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 222 acres.
Is Minerva Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Minerva Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Minerva Lake?
- Minerva Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 18 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Minerva Lake?
- Minerva Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 222 acres.
What fish are in Minerva Lake?
- Fish species found in Minerva Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Minerva Lake is located in Burnett County, Wisconsin.
Explore Minerva Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
54 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX54 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity in Water
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes