Viola Lake
Burnett County, Wisconsin265 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Viola Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Curly-Leaf Pondweed
- 34 ft max depth
- Public access
Viola Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 265 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Viola Lake. DNR survey details →
Viola Lake is a 265-acre mesotrophic lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 34 feet. 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 1 public boat landing. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Viola Lake covers about 270 acres in Burnett County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Viola Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Viola Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water17 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Deep water34 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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 Viola 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 Viola Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Viola 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 17 ft down. Phosphorus 18.2 µg/L. TSI 41.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 17ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 18.2µg/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. | 41 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Viola Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Viola Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (51°F) to its warmest (79°F).
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 ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Viola Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Viola Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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)
Lake Details
Max depth
34 ft
Surface area
265 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.2 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
974 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Viola 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 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
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Viola Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Improving-1.69 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Viola Lake
Where is Viola Lake?
- Viola Lake is a lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Viola Lake?
- Viola Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Viola Lake?
- Viola Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Viola Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Viola Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Viola Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Viola Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Viola Lake?
- Viola 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 Viola Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
State Parks Near Viola Lake
Other 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)
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