Itasca County Lake Quality

Minnesota, 141 lakes, average grade B (Good)

Itasca County has 141 graded lakes, enough that within-county variation matters as much as the county average. Some are deep glacial basins, others are shallow agricultural-watershed waters, and the grade distribution reflects that mix. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.

Many of the county's lakes are deep glacial basins — over 50 feet at their deepest point — which gives them thermal stratification and a buffer against summer warming. Little Wabana Lake (grade A) is the cleanest in the county.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated May 31, 2026

Loading map…

Quick Answers for Itasca County

Cleanest lakes in Itasca County →Cleanest lakes in Minnesota →Safest swimming lakes in Minnesota →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Little Wabana Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.

DNR Reports (369)

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Itasca County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →

—
Fisheries Lake Survey — White Swan
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — West Sturgeon
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Wabana
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Ice
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Grass
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Trout
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Trout
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Trestle
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Trestle
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Three Island
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Swan
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Sugar
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder

All Lakes in Itasca County

Rank	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Max Depth	Phosphorus
1	Little Wabana Lake	A	23.8 ft	57 ft	6.5 µg/L
2	Long Lake	A	16.7 ft	72 ft	8 µg/L
3	Long Lake	A	16.9 ft	85 ft	10 µg/L
4	Maple Lake	A	15.3 ft	39 ft	10 µg/L
5	Shallow Lake	A	16.4 ft	85 ft	9 µg/L
6	Trout Lake	A	15.5 ft	135 ft	-
7	Trout Lake	A	18 ft	157 ft	3.5 µg/L
8	Clear Lake	A	14.9 ft	30 ft	9 µg/L
9	Bass Lake	A	18.2 ft	65 ft	8 µg/L
10	Turtle Lake	A	17.1 ft	54 ft	8 µg/L
11	Pokegama Lake	A	16 ft	112 ft	12 µg/L
12	Mcavity Lake	A	17 ft	29 ft	-
13	Caribou Lake	A	31 ft	152 ft	-
14	Wabana Lake	A	18 ft	115 ft	8 µg/L
15	Hatch Lake	A	16.5 ft	88 ft	-
16	North Star Lake	A	19 ft	90 ft	11 µg/L
17	Little Bass Lake	A	17.7 ft	62 ft	-
18	Napoleon Lake	A	18 ft	30 ft	-
19	Little Trout Lake	A	22 ft	80 ft	9.5 µg/L
20	Bluewater Lake	A	18.5 ft	120 ft	5 µg/L
21	Dunning Lake	A	18.5 ft	-	-
22	Little Long Lake	A	16 ft	61 ft	-
23	Three Island Lake	A	29 ft	66 ft	-
24	Mirror Lake	A	18 ft	45 ft	10 µg/L
25	Siseebakwet Lake	A	19 ft	105 ft	5 µg/L
26	Johnson Lake	A	15.7 ft	88 ft	9 µg/L
27	South Sugar Lake	A	15 ft	36 ft	15 µg/L
28	Big Ole Lake	A	21.8 ft	65 ft	7 µg/L
29	Larson Lake	A	21 ft	177 ft	4 µg/L
30	Ball Club Lake	A	16 ft	85 ft	-
31	Pokegama Lake	A	17.5 ft	112 ft	-
32	Burns Lake	A	16.1 ft	100 ft	8 µg/L
33	Big Island Lake	A	16.4 ft	42 ft	14 µg/L
34	O'Reilly Lake	A	16 ft	79 ft	-
35	Gale Lake	A	17.1 ft	50 ft	-
36	Little Jay Gould Lake	A	21.5 ft	56 ft	16 µg/L
37	Leighton Lake	A	21.7 ft	63 ft	-
38	Chase Lake	A	21.7 ft	95 ft	-
39	Ames Lake	A	10 ft	51 ft	15 µg/L
40	Deer Lake	A	13.1 ft	121 ft	11 µg/L
41	Five Island Lake	A	13 ft	33 ft	11 µg/L
42	Sand Lake	A	13 ft	60 ft	18 µg/L
43	Pickerel Lake	A	10.2 ft	70 ft	17.5 µg/L
44	Swan Lake	A	13.5 ft	65 ft	18 µg/L
45	Rush Island Lake	A	10.8 ft	32 ft	15 µg/L
46	Trestle Lake	A	14.8 ft	35 ft	13 µg/L
47	Beatrice Lake	A	10.5 ft	29 ft	15 µg/L
48	Bello Lake	A	13.1 ft	58 ft	17 µg/L
49	Gunn Lake	A	14.3 ft	-	9 µg/L
50	Busties Lake	A	10.3 ft	44 ft	16 µg/L
51	Little Whitefish Lake	A	11.5 ft	15 ft	14 µg/L
52	Jack the Horse Lake	A	11.6 ft	45 ft	13.5 µg/L
53	Coon-Sandwick Lake	A	10.7 ft	36 ft	14 µg/L
54	Sandwick Lake	A	11.6 ft	36 ft	10.5 µg/L
55	Mead Lake	A	10.7 ft	18 ft	15.5 µg/L
56	Alice Lake	B	8.5 ft	65 ft	12 µg/L
57	Sugar Lake	B	7 ft	22 ft	16 µg/L
58	Horseshoe Lake	B	10.5 ft	25 ft	-
59	Unnamed Lake	B	13 ft	53 ft	-
60	Deer Lake	B	8.5 ft	50 ft	16 µg/L
61	Bass Lake	B	13.5 ft	76 ft	-
62	East Smith Lake	B	12 ft	38 ft	-
63	Moose Lake	B	11.5 ft	61 ft	-
64	Rice Lake	B	13.8 ft	68 ft	-
65	Spider Lake	B	10 ft	36 ft	-
66	Jay Gould Lake	B	13 ft	33 ft	21 µg/L
67	North Twin Lake	B	13.5 ft	42 ft	-
68	Mary Lake	B	10.5 ft	45 ft	-
69	Helen Lake	B	8 ft	33 ft	17 µg/L
70	Gum Lake	B	14 ft	42 ft	-
71	Trestle Lake	B	12 ft	48 ft	-
72	Amen Lake	B	14 ft	75 ft	-
73	Buck Lake	B	12 ft	31 ft	-
74	Fox Lake	B	12.8 ft	75 ft	-
75	Loon Lake	B	14 ft	69 ft	-
76	Battle Lake	B	8.2 ft	15 ft	15 µg/L
77	Balsam Lake	B	10.5 ft	37 ft	-
78	Connors Lake	B	10.5 ft	68 ft	-
79	Boy Lake	B	11.8 ft	42 ft	-
80	White Swan Lake	B	12 ft	19 ft	-
81	Ghost Lake	B	13 ft	30 ft	-
82	Fifth Chain Lake	B	12.5 ft	42 ft	-
83	South Twin Lake	B	14 ft	40 ft	-
84	Schoolhouse Lake	B	5.2 ft	-	18 µg/L
85	North Grave Lake	B	13 ft	39 ft	-
86	Greeley Lake	B	9 ft	43 ft	-
87	Little Island Lake	B	6.9 ft	35 ft	13 µg/L
88	Raddison Lake	B	14 ft	40 ft	-
89	Moose Lake	B	8 ft	52 ft	22 µg/L
90	Moose Lake	B	7.9 ft	11 ft	21 µg/L
91	Anderson Lake	B	5.6 ft	110 ft	14 µg/L
92	Little Sand Lake	B	8.2 ft	19 ft	27 µg/L
93	Little Sand Lake	B	5.4 ft	44 ft	15 µg/L
94	Dora Lake	B	7.5 ft	18 ft	25 µg/L
95	Dead Horse Lake	B	9.8 ft	30 ft	21 µg/L
96	Bog Lake	B	6.6 ft	38 ft	14 µg/L
97	West Sturgeon Lake	B	4.1 ft	31 ft	17.5 µg/L
98	Third River Flowage Lake	B	6.9 ft	69.8 ft	-
99	Middle Pigeon Lake	C	7.5 ft	-	29.5 µg/L
100	Cut Foot Sioux Lake	C	8.5 ft	-	30 µg/L
101	Clearwater Lake	C	9.5 ft	16 ft	-
102	Round Lake	C	7.5 ft	16 ft	-
103	Long Lake	C	7.3 ft	34 ft	-
104	Unnamed Lake	C	7.9 ft	-	-
105	Island Lake	C	8.9 ft	35 ft	32.5 µg/L
106	Dode Lake	C	7.3 ft	25 ft	-
107	Jessie Lake	C	8 ft	42 ft	30 µg/L
108	Smith Lake	C	9 ft	25 ft	-
109	Split Hand Lake	C	6 ft	34 ft	21 µg/L
110	Snaptail Lake	C	9 ft	70 ft	-
111	Little Split Hand Lake	C	9 ft	25 ft	-
112	Shoal Lake	C	8 ft	7 ft	-
113	Little Moose Lake	C	8 ft	23 ft	-
114	Little Bowstring Lake	C	7.3 ft	33 ft	-
115	Bowstring Lake	C	8 ft	32 ft	32 µg/L
116	Lily Lake	C	3.3 ft	45 ft	16.5 µg/L
117	South Grave Lake	C	9.5 ft	-	-
118	Little Ball Club Lake	C	7.9 ft	30 ft	-
119	Little Winnibigoshish Lake	C	8.4 ft	28 ft	-
120	Shallow Pond	C	4.4 ft	14 ft	56 µg/L
121	King Lake	C	4.5 ft	23 ft	36 µg/L
122	Dunbar Lake	C	4.9 ft	30 ft	35 µg/L
123	Mosomo Lake	C	4.5 ft	30 ft	-
124	Sherry Lake	C	2.6 ft	-	23 µg/L
125	Dixon Lake	C	6 ft	29 ft	33 µg/L
126	Little White Oak Lake	C	3.3 ft	-	28 µg/L
127	Lower Pigeon Lake	D	4.2 ft	-	46 µg/L
128	Round Lake	D	5.6 ft	24 ft	69 µg/L
129	Lower Lawrence Lake	D	4.5 ft	34 ft	-
130	Prairie Lake	D	5 ft	-	-
131	Mcguire Lake	D	6 ft	-	-
132	Blackwater Lake	D	4.4 ft	72 ft	-
133	Little Turtle Lake	D	6 ft	29 ft	-
134	Little Cowhorn Lake	D	4 ft	12 ft	-
135	Little Siseebakwet Lake	D	5 ft	-	-
136	Little Cut Foot Lake	D	6.6 ft	20 ft	-
137	White Oak Lake	D	3.3 ft	-	44 µg/L
138	Rat Lake	D	3.3 ft	20 ft	62 µg/L
139	Unnamed Lake	F	3.3 ft	-	-
140	Cowhorn Lake	F	2.5 ft	-	-
141	Mississippi Lake	F	3.3 ft	-	-

Other Counties in Minnesota

Cass County

132 lakes · Avg grade B

Unknown County

6 lakes · Avg grade B

Hubbard County

76 lakes · Avg grade B

Crow Wing County

120 lakes · Avg grade B

Clearwater County

40 lakes · Avg grade B

Beltrami County

92 lakes · Avg grade B

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.