Amen Lake
Amen Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 75 ft. Surface area: 214.65 acres.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Max depth
- 75 ft
- Area
- 215 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
- Open water
- 215 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Amen Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: 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 Amen 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.
Amen Lake is a 215-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 75 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 2022-08-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Amen Lake water quality
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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 Amen Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Amen Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Amen Lake in Itasca 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 Amen Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 75 ft |
| Surface Area | 215 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 50% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Amen Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1987-07-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 13.76 | 0.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 7.01 | 1.56 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.54 | 0.11 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.45 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 5.00 | 0.55 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.59 | 0.38 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1987-07-20 survey
ALL FISH SPECIES SAMPLED APPEAR TO BE WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE AND THE CATCH OF MOST SPECIES ARE WELL ABOVE STATE AND LOCAL MEDIANS.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Amen Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — AmenFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Amen (0813)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.385 m/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (11 observations).
Estimated open water season: 215 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-12 (2015) | 2008-05-03 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-08 (2002) | 2006-11-29 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-04-12
Graded lakes near Amen Lake
Amen Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Amen Lake
What is the water quality grade for Amen Lake?
- Amen Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 75 ft. Surface area: 214.65 acres.
Is Amen Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Amen Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Amen Lake?
- Amen Lake has a maximum depth of 75 feet. The lake covers 214.65 acres.
When does Amen Lake thaw?
- Amen Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 215 days.
Explore Amen Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2020–2022
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate