Aerie Lake
Aerie Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 146.35 acres.
Minnesota DNR surveys at Aerie Lake average 2.88 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 11, 2005. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–38 inches. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 146 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 23
- Open water
- 211 days
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Why Aerie Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Aerie Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Aerie Lake is a 146-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Aerie Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Aerie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Aerie Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Aerie Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Aerie Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Oct (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 23 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Aerie Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR surveys at Aerie Lake average 2.88 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 11, 2005. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–38 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Aerie Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2005-07-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 12.07 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.39 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.88 | 2.16 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 1.67 | 0.99 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.57 | 0.4 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.47 | 3.6 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
From the 2005-07-11 survey
Aerie Lake is a 139 acre lake located near Alborn, Minnesota with 69% (96.6 acres) littoral area and a maximum depth of 37 feet. The public access on Aerie Lake is undeveloped and does not allow easy access to the lake. Largemouth bass and bluegill are the primary fish species. The Aerie Lake Property Owners…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Aerie Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — AerieFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Aerie (1872)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — AerieFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Surface Area | 146 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 66% |
| Public Access | No |
Fishing Aerie Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.327 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (18 observations).
Estimated open water season: 211 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-14 (2024) | 2022-05-05 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-09 (2017) | 2015-12-14 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-14
Graded lakes near Aerie Lake
Aerie Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Aerie Lake
Where is Aerie Lake?
- Aerie Lake is a lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Aerie Lake?
- Aerie Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 146.35 acres.
Is Aerie Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Aerie Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Aerie Lake?
- Aerie Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 23 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Aerie Lake?
- Aerie Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet. The lake covers 146.35 acres.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Aerie Lake?
- Minnesota DNR surveys at Aerie Lake average 2.88 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 11, 2005. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–38 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Aerie Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Aerie Lake thaw?
- Aerie Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23. Ice typically forms around Nov 20. The open water season is approximately 211 days.
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA32 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate