Shoal Lake

Shoal Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Burnett County. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's 233 acres and partial shoreline records put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Within Burnett County's 70 graded lakes, Shoal Lake ranks 49 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

No invasive species are currently listed at Shoal Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. 2 fish species are documented at Shoal Lake, a mixed warm-water community typical for Wisconsin lakes of this size. A documented public access point at Shoal Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.