Shay Lake
Shay Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 68 acres.
- Clarity
- 15 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 68 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Shay Lake is a 68-acre mesotrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 36 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Oconto County, Shay Lake ranks #23 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Phosphorus level: 14.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Shay Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shay Lake in Oconto 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 Shay Lake
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Water Temperature
Shay Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Oct (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 34 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shay Lake water temperature breakdown →
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2002. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Shay Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2015Shay Lake fishery survey 2015Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2015 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Surface Area | 68 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Shay LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Shay 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: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.587 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #23 of 39 lakes in Oconto County
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Shay Lake
Where is Shay Lake?
- Shay Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Shay Lake?
- Shay Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 68 acres.
Is Shay Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Shay Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Shay Lake?
- Shay Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 34 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Shay Lake?
- Shay Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake covers 68 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Shay Lake?
- Shay Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shay Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shay Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Oconto County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Shay Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
39 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_WQX39 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