Bartlett Lake
Bartlett Lake in Koochiching County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 304.22 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 304 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Koochiching County
Bartlett Lake is a 304-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Koochiching County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Koochiching County, Bartlett Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 31.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Bartlett Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bartlett Lake in Koochiching 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.
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Water Temperature
Bartlett Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Jun (about 67°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 37 field readings (2021–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bartlett Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 304 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 96% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bartlett LakePublic
- Teufer LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bartlett Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-07-13 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BLH | 125.19 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 69.98 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 57.16 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 20.38 | 0.32 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.02 | 2.58 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 3.88 | 0.48 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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.
BLH
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
From the 2021-07-13 survey
Bartlett Lake is a 304-acre lake located on the northeastern edge of the town of Northome, MN. Bartlett is a highly productive lake that has a history of frequent winterkill events. Between winterkill events, Bartlett is capable of quickly rebounding to provide fish that are of interest to anglers. A winterkill event…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bartlett Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BartlettFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bartlett (1966)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BartlettFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BartlettPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.05 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.2 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.67 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Bartlett 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 MN36-0018-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Bartlett Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- NorthomeNorthome · 1.4 mi away · NPDES MN0049158
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Koochiching County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bartlett Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Koochiching County
Frequently asked questions about Bartlett Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bartlett Lake?
- Bartlett Lake in Koochiching County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 304.22 acres.
Is Bartlett Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Bartlett Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bartlett Lake?
- Bartlett Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 37 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bartlett Lake?
- Bartlett Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 304.22 acres.
What fish are in Bartlett Lake?
- Fish species found in Bartlett Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Bartlett Lake is located in Koochiching County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Bartlett Lake?
- Bartlett Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bartlett Lake, Teufer Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bartlett Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Koochiching County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Bartlett Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
63 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA63 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory