Caribou Lake
Caribou Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Surface area: 68.31 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Area
- 68 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cook County
Caribou Lake is a 68-acre mesotrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including white sucker. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Caribou Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Caribou Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Caribou Lake in Cook 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
Caribou Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Jun (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 37 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Caribou Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 68 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
The available depth estimate for Caribou Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Caribou LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Caribou Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1995-09-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 14.50 | 0.3 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.
White Sucker
From the 1995-09-18 survey
Agnes Lake presently has no apparent fishery value. Black crappie, which were apparently abundant in the early-1970's, appear to have disappeared.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Caribou Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — AgnesFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.054 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.5 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.33 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Caribou 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 MN16-0360-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Caribou Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Caribou Highlands Lodge WwtpLutsen · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MN0053252Recent violation
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 #9 of 44 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Caribou Lake
What is the water quality grade for Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Surface area: 68.31 acres.
Is Caribou Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Caribou Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 37 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Caribou Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Caribou Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 68.31 acres.
What fish are in Caribou Lake?
- Fish species found in Caribou Lake include white sucker. Caribou Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Caribou Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Caribou Lake across LakeGrade
6.3 mi away · 30 ft
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Where this data comes from
340 measurements from 5 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA340 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (5)
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