Dixon Lake vs Third River Flowage Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Third River Flowage Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Dixon Lake. 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 differences in the readings here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies sampling them. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Dixon Lake versus Third River Flowage Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
With readings 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 6 ft | 6.9 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 34 µg/L | 28.5 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.6 µg/L | 5.5 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft | 69.8 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 622 acres | 56,471 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 15 | 20 Better |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | mesotrophic |
A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.
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Verdict
Third River Flowage Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Dixon Lake. Water clarity: 6.9 ft vs 6 ft. For fishing diversity, Third River Flowage Lake also leads with 20 species.
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Where to stay near Dixon Lake and Third River Flowage Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Dixon Lake and Third River Flowage Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.