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LakeQuality

Spirit Lake

NR
Not yet rated
5.5 ft clear · Eutrophic · 592 acres
Limited DataEutrophic

Spirit Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 592 acres.

Clarity
5.5 ft
Max depth
27 ft
Area
592 acres
Trend
Improving
Public access
Yes

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Why Spirit 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 Spirit Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. 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.

Spirit Lake is a 592-acre lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-10-07. 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 Spirit Lake

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

Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 53.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)5.5 ftNot graded
PhosphorusNo recent samples
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No recent samples
Trophic State Index (TSI)53Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Where to stay near Spirit Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spirit 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 Spirit 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
Maximum Depth27 ft
Surface Area592 acres
Public AccessYes

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area
24 sq mi
Shoreline
5.4 mi
Elevation
928 ft

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

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access
  • Spirit LakePublic

Fish Species

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

Fishing Spirit 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.

Banded Mystery SnailChinese Mystery SnailCurly-Leaf Pondweed

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2024).

DNR Assessment
Excellent · Shallow Lowland lake
Trophic State Index 47 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Common)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)

Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.526 m/yr5
See year-by-year chart →

Graded lakes near Spirit Lake

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

Nearby Lakes in Burnett County

Frequently asked questions about Spirit Lake

What is the water quality grade for Spirit Lake?

Spirit Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 592 acres.

Is Spirit Lake safe to swim in?

Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Spirit 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 Spirit Lake?

Spirit Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 592 acres.

What fish are in Spirit Lake?

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

Are there boat ramps on Spirit Lake?

Spirit Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Spirit Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Where this data comes from

27 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWIDNR_WQX27 samples · 2020–2024
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