Buck Lake
Buck Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 495.06 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 495 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
- Open water
- 206 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Buck 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 Buck 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.
Buck Lake is a 495-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 31 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-30. 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 Buck Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Buck Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buck 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 Buck Lake
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Water Temperature
Buck Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 38 field readings (2016–2016) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Buck Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 495 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Buck LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Buck Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Spottail Shiner | 36.70 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 33.26 | — |
| Bluegill | 20.06 | 0.13 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.94 | 0.81 lb |
| GOS | 9.61 | 0.09 lb |
| MMS | 5.00 | — |
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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
GOS
From the 2023-08-14 survey
Buck Lake is a shallow, productive lake located north of Nashwauk, MN in the Mississippi River watershed. The lake is highly developed and has a small public access on the southwest side of the lake. Buck Lake supports a variety of species of aquatic vegetation with good habitat for panfish and Largemouth Bass. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Buck Lake. 5 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BuckFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Buck (0627)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Buck (2056)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BuckFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BuckPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.175 m/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (21 observations).
Estimated open water season: 206 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-04-07 (2024) | 2022-05-08 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2001-12-01 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-07
EPA Impairment Status
Buck 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 MN31-0069-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Buck Lake
Buck Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Buck Lake
What is the water quality grade for Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 495.06 acres.
Is Buck Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Buck 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 Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 38 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2016). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 495.06 acres.
What fish are in Buck Lake?
- Fish species found in Buck Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Buck Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Buck Lake thaw?
- Buck Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 13. The open water season is approximately 206 days.
Are there boat ramps on Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Buck Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Buck Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
42 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA42 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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