Lake of the Woods County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 11 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Lake of the Woods County has 11 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. The county average is C — the middle of the rubric, with one or two lakes pulling the average up or down depending on year.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Lake of the Woods (C); the most-stressed is Lake of the Woods (D).
Quick Answers for Lake of the Woods County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lake of the Woods, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (2)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Lake of the Woods County. browse all reports →
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lake of the Woods (Main)Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lake of the Woods (Fourmile Bay)Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Lake of the Woods County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake of the Woods | C | 4.8 ft | - | 26 µg/L |
| 2 | Lake of the Woods | C | 5.5 ft | - | 26 µg/L |
| 3 | Lake of the Woods | C | 5.2 ft | - | 20.5 µg/L |
| 4 | Low: Mpca Co-Located Site Muskeg Bay Lake | C | 5.4 ft | - | 28 µg/L |
| 5 | Low: Mpca Co-Located Site Big Traverse Bay Lake | C | 5 ft | - | 23 µg/L |
| 6 | Low: Mpca Co-Located Site Lake | C | 5.5 ft | - | 27 µg/L |
| 7 | Low: Mpca Co-Located Site Four Mile Bay Lake | C | 3.7 ft | - | 22 µg/L |
| 8 | Big Traverse Bay Lake | C | 4 ft | - | 33.5 µg/L |
| 9 | Lake of the Woods | C | 5.2 ft | - | 31 µg/L |
| 10 | Lake of the Woods | C | 4.9 ft | - | 35 µg/L |
| 11 | Lake of the Woods | D | 3.3 ft | - | 31 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.