Anchor Lake
Anchor Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.4 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 36.93 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 54 ft
- Area
- 37 acres
- Public access
- No
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Anchor 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 Anchor 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.
Anchor Lake is a 37-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 54 feet. 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 2025-10-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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 Anchor Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.4 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Anchor Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Anchor 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 Anchor Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Anchor Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Anchor Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 54 ft |
| Surface Area | 37 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Anchor Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Anchor Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0646-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.9 km)
Graded lakes near Anchor Lake
Anchor Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Anchor Lake
What is the water quality grade for Anchor Lake?
- Anchor Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.4 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 36.93 acres.
Is Anchor Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Anchor 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 Anchor Lake?
- Anchor Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 10 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Anchor Lake?
- Anchor Lake has a maximum depth of 54 feet. The lake covers 36.93 acres.
Explore Anchor Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA10 samples · 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder