Is Big Lake Safe for Swimming?
Big 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: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft |
| Phosphorus | 14 μg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.9 μg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Location | St. Louis County, Minnesota |
How does Big Lake compare?
On nutrient and algae readings, Big Lake matches or beats the Minnesota state average. It ranks #1 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County on nutrient and algae readings.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 8.2 feet. That puts the lake in good clarity range, with limited algae interference. Algae levels (chlorophyll-a) measure 4.9 µg/L — low and well within safe swimming guidelines.
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