Shay Lake
Oconto County, Wisconsin68 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Shay Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 36 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Shay Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 68 acres.
Shay Lake is a 68-acre mesotrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 36 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Shay Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Deep water36 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Shay Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Shay Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Shay Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Phosphorus 14.2 µg/L. TSI 40.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 15ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 14.2µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 40 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Shay Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Shay Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (64°F) to its warmest (77°F).
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
Max depth
36 ft
Surface area
68 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.4 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
863 ft
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Shay Lake’s readings
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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 (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-1.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Shay Lake
Where is Shay Lake?
- Shay Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Shay Lake?
- Shay Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Shay Lake?
- Shay Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in October, 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.
Can I fish at Shay Lake?
- Shay Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Shay Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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