Caribou Lake
Caribou Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 246.15 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.8 ft
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 246 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Cook County
Why Caribou 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 Caribou Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Caribou Lake is a 246-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 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 2025-08-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Caribou Lake water quality
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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 Caribou Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Caribou Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 246 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 82% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Caribou Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1986-09-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 4.33 | 0.52 lb |
| Walleye | 2.83 | 1.1 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.00 | 3.04 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.00 | 2.79 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1986-09-24 survey
THE WALLEYE POPULATION APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE. THERE ARE SEVERAL STRONG AGE-CLASSES PRE- SENT. GROWTH IS SLOW, AS IT IS IN MANY LAKES IN THIS VICINITY. THERE ARE SEVERAL AGE-CLASSES OF NORTHERN PIKE PRESENT, INDICATING AT LEAST SOME RELIABLE SPAWNING.
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 — CaribouFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.062 m/yr | 3 |
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 MN16-0215-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.93 km)
Graded lakes near Caribou Lake
Caribou Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
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 is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 246.15 acres.
Is Caribou Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Caribou 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 Caribou Lake?
- Caribou Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 246.15 acres.
Explore Caribou Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Cook County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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State Parks Near Caribou Lake
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA3 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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