Blackface Lake
Blackface Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 191.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 192 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 19
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in Aitkin County
Why Blackface 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 Blackface 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.
Blackface Lake is a 192-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-31. 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 Blackface Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Blackface Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Blackface Lake in Aitkin 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 Blackface Lake
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Water Temperature
Blackface Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Blackface Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 192 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 89% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Ball Bluff LakePublic
- Ball Bluff LakePublic
- Blackface LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Blackface Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1986-09-02 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 32.00 | 0.23 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 21.04 | 0.39 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.00 | 0.28 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.21 | 2.46 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.53 | 0.13 lb |
| Bluegill | 0.38 | 0.83 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1986-09-02 survey
Northern pike and brown bullhead indices are above the third regional quartile. The catch indices for black bullhead, pumpkinseed, largemouth bass and yellow perch are between the first and third regional quartiles. The index of abundance for blue- gill is below the first regional quartile. The indices of abundance…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Blackface Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BlackfaceFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Blackface (0121)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BlackfacePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.057 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (35 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-21 (2012) | 2013-05-09 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-05 (2017) | 2009-11-30 (2009) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-31
EPA Impairment Status
Blackface 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 MN01-0046-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.97 km)
Graded lakes near Blackface Lake
Blackface Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Blackface Lake
What is the water quality grade for Blackface Lake?
- Blackface Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 191.8 acres.
Is Blackface Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Blackface 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 Blackface Lake?
- Blackface Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Blackface Lake?
- Blackface Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 191.8 acres.
What fish are in Blackface Lake?
- Fish species found in Blackface Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, yellow perch. Blackface Lake is located in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
When does Blackface Lake thaw?
- Blackface Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19. Ice typically forms around Nov 18. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Are there boat ramps on Blackface Lake?
- Blackface Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Ball Bluff Lake, Ball Bluff Lake, Blackface Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
24 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
MNPCA24 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate