Pine County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 19 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Pine County's 19 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for Minnesota. The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. Pine County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
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 Sturgeon Lake (A); the most-stressed is Pokegama Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Pine County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Sturgeon Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (53)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Pine County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SturgeonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RushFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RhineFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PokegamaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PassengerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OakFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — NetFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LongFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — IslandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GreigsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FoxFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Pine County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sturgeon Lake | A | 16 ft | 40 ft | - |
| 2 | Sturgeon Lake | A | 55 ft | - | - |
| 3 | Johnson Lake | A | 11.3 ft | - | 11 µg/L |
| 4 | Sand Lake | B | 10 ft | 47 ft | - |
| 5 | Rush Lake | B | 12.8 ft | 37 ft | - |
| 6 | Dago Lake | B | 12.8 ft | 20 ft | - |
| 7 | Eleven Lake | B | 11 ft | 49 ft | - |
| 8 | Greigs Lake | B | 12.6 ft | 68 ft | - |
| 9 | Bass Lake | C | 8.3 ft | 24 ft | - |
| 10 | Island Lake | C | 7 ft | 42 ft | - |
| 11 | Passenger Lake | C | 8 ft | 22 ft | - |
| 12 | Big Pine Lake | C | 4.3 ft | 25 ft | 21 µg/L |
| 13 | Long Lake | D | 5.7 ft | 24 ft | - |
| 14 | Fish Lake | D | 6 ft | 18 ft | - |
| 15 | Oak Lake | D | 3.8 ft | 20 ft | - |
| 16 | Net Lake | D | 3 ft | 15 ft | 33 µg/L |
| 17 | Fox Lake | D | 3.7 ft | 14.5 ft | - |
| 18 | Pokegama Lake | F | 2 ft | 25 ft | 170 µg/L |
| 19 | Rhine Lake | F | 2.5 ft | 8 ft | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.