Rooney Lake
Rooney Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 329 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Rooney Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 329 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Rooney Lake is a 329-acre mesotrophic lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Burnett County, Rooney Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-02. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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 11 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Rooney Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rooney 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Rooney Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Rooney Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Aug (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rooney Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Rooney Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Rooney Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1988. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 329 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Nicaboyne LakePublic
- Goose LakePublic
- Rooney LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rooney 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.121 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.45 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 30 lakes in Burnett County
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Rooney Lake
Where is Rooney Lake?
- Rooney Lake is a lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Rooney Lake?
- Rooney Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 329 acres.
Is Rooney Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Rooney Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Rooney Lake?
- Rooney Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rooney Lake?
- Rooney Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 329 acres.
What fish are in Rooney Lake?
- Fish species found in Rooney Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Rooney Lake is located in Burnett County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Rooney Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Rooney Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Rooney Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Rooney Lake?
- Rooney Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Nicaboyne Lake, Goose Lake, Rooney Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Rooney Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Burnett County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
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Where this data comes from
44 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX44 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory