Blue Lake
Blue Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 177.32 acres.
- Clarity
- 20 ft
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- Area
- 177 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 12
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Why Blue 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 Blue 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.
Blue Lake is a 177-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 48 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 2025-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Blue Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Blue Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 20 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Blue Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Blue Lake in Crow Wing 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 Blue Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 177 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 43% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Blue Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1982-07-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 97.30 | 0.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 10.17 | 1.37 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 8.30 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 7.96 | 0.57 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 6.93 | 0.36 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.83 | 0.17 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1982-07-12 survey
Yellow bullheads and sunfish are presently abundant. Tullibee population has apparently disappeared. Northern pike have increased considerably since last survey. Yellow perch seem to be present in approximately the same numbers.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Blue Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BlueFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Blue (0237)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BlueFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.281 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-04-04 (2017) | 2008-05-01 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2007-12-03 (2007) | 2007-12-03 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2017-04-04
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Blue Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Roosevelt Lake (completed 1936), built primarily for recreation on the Crooked Creek; gravity-type dam, 8 ft tall and 41 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,510 ac
- Normal storage
- 67,360 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 72,412 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 40 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00051 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.79 km)
Graded lakes near Blue Lake
Blue Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Blue Lake
What is the water quality grade for Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 177.32 acres.
Is Blue Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Blue 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 Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet. The lake covers 177.32 acres.
When does Blue Lake thaw?
- Blue Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 12.
Explore Blue Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Crow Wing County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Brainerd Lakes area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Mille Lacs Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Blue Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
16 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
MNPCA16 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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate