Is Bear Head Lake Safe for Swimming?
Bear Head Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. A water-quality reading is not a swimming clearance. The state water agency and county health departments post current advisories; check them before you swim.. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft |
| Phosphorus | 19.5 μg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 μg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 46 ft |
| Location | St. Louis County, Minnesota |
How does Bear Head Lake compare?
On nutrient and algae readings, Bear Head Lake matches or beats the Minnesota state average. It ranks #26 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County on nutrient and algae readings.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 11 feet. That counts as exceptional clarity — sunlight penetrates deep, supporting submerged plants and limiting algae. Algae levels (chlorophyll-a) measure 3.6 µg/L — low and well within safe swimming guidelines.
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