Is Bear Island Lake Safe for Swimming?
Bear Island 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: 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 |
|---|---|
| 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?
On nutrient and algae readings, Bear Island Lake matches or beats the Minnesota state average. It ranks #18 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County on nutrient and algae readings.
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.
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