Is Bowstring Lake Safe for Swimming?
Bowstring Lake in Itasca 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 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft |
| Phosphorus | 38.5 μg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.5 μg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Location | Itasca County, Minnesota |
How does Bowstring Lake compare?
On nutrient and algae readings, Bowstring Lake matches or beats the Minnesota state average. It ranks #56 of 72 lakes in Itasca County on nutrient and algae readings.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 8 feet. That puts the lake in good clarity range, with limited algae interference. Algae levels (chlorophyll-a) measure 12.5 µg/L — moderate; acceptable for swimming on most days, but worth checking advisories.
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