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LakeQuality

Shoal Lake

NR
Not yet rated
5.9 ft clear · Eutrophic · 233 acres
Limited DataEutrophic

Shoal Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Surface area: 233 acres.

Clarity
5.9 ft
Area
233 acres
Trend
Improving
Public access
Yes

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BLoon Lake8.5 ft clear · Burnett CountyView →
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Why Shoal Lake has no grade

We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Shoal Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).

Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.

Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.

Shoal Lake is a 233-acre lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Northern Pike. Public access is available.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-07-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Not rated

Limited data

Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Hayward

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Water quality measurements for Shoal Lake

These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.

Murky, only visible to about 5.9 ft. Trophic State Index: 52.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)5.9 ftNot graded
PhosphorusNo recent samples
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No recent samples
Trophic State Index (TSI)52Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Where to stay near Shoal Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shoal 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 Shoal Lake

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Surface Area233 acres
Public AccessYes

The available depth estimate for Shoal Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
Shoreline
2.6 mi
Elevation
974 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing Shoal Lake

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2023).

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Present)Northern Pike(Present)

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.429 m/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Graded lakes near Shoal Lake

Shoal Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.

Nearby Lakes in Burnett County

Frequently asked questions about Shoal Lake

What is the water quality grade for Shoal Lake?

Shoal Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Surface area: 233 acres.

Is Shoal Lake safe to swim in?

Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Shoal Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

How deep is Shoal Lake?

The available depth estimate for Shoal Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 233 acres.

What fish are in Shoal Lake?

Fish species found in Shoal Lake include Panfish, Northern Pike. Shoal Lake is located in Burnett County, Wisconsin.

Where this data comes from

4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWIDNR_WQX4 samples · 2022–2023
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