Dixon Lake vs Third River Flowage Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Third River Flowage Lake has a higher water quality grade (C, Fair) than Dixon Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Both Dixon Lake and Third River Flowage Lake sit in Minnesota. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any grade differences here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies grading them. These two are within a letter of each other on the rubric — Dixon Lake (D) versus Third River Flowage Lake (C). The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
With grades this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.
Dixon Lake
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft.
Third River Flowage Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Dixon Lake | Third River Flowage Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | D (Poor) | C (Fair) |
| Water Clarity | 6 ft | 6.9 ft |
| Phosphorus | 34 µg/L | 28.5 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.6 µg/L | 5.5 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft | 69.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 622 acres | 56,471 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 15 | 20 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Third River Flowage Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade C versus Dixon Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 6.9 ft vs 6 ft. For fishing diversity, Third River Flowage Lake also leads with 20 species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.