Viola Lake
Viola Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 265 acres.
- Clarity
- 17 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 265 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Burnett County
Viola Lake is a 265-acre mesotrophic lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Burnett County, Viola Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 17 ft down. Phosphorus level: 18.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Viola Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Viola 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 Viola Lake
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Water Temperature
Viola Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Apr (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Viola Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Viola Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (8,091 cells/mL) on November 22, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 265 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Viola LakePublic
- Taylor LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Viola 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1987. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.607 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.69 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 30 lakes in Burnett County
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Viola Lake
What is the water quality grade for Viola Lake?
- Viola Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 265 acres.
Is Viola Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Viola Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Viola Lake?
- Viola Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 18 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Viola Lake?
- Viola Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 265 acres.
What fish are in Viola Lake?
- Fish species found in Viola Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Viola Lake is located in Burnett County, Wisconsin.
Does Viola Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Viola Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (8,091 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Viola Lake?
- Viola Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Viola Lake, Taylor Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Viola Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Burnett County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Viola Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
68 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_WQX68 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