Is Bear Island Lake Safe for Swimming?
Bear Island Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) |
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft |
| Phosphorus | 15 μg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.4 μg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 62 ft |
| Location | St. Louis County, Minnesota |
How does Bear Island Lake compare?
With an overall water quality grade of A, Bear Island Lake matches or beats the Minnesota state average of Grade C. It ranks #18 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County by water quality score.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 7 feet. That puts the lake in good clarity range, with limited algae interference. Algae levels (chlorophyll-a) measure 6.4 µg/L — low and well within safe swimming guidelines.