Chester Lake
Chester Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 51.97 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 52 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cook County
Why Chester 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 Chester 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.
Chester Lake is a 52-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet (14-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including brown trout, rainbow smelt, and white sucker. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Chester 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 Chester Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.9 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.9 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 Chester Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chester 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 Chester 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 →
Water Temperature
Chester Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in Sep (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Chester Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Average Depth | 14.2 ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 56% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Devilfish LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Chester Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-09-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| RBS | 35.77 | 0.03 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 28.45 | — |
| BNS | 8.00 | — |
| CNM | 5.72 | — |
| White Sucker | 5.63 | 0.9 lb |
| Brown Trout | 3.24 | 1.59 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.
RBS
Fathead Minnow
White Sucker
Brown Trout
From the 2024-09-23 survey
Chester Lake is a small, 52-acre lake with a maximum depth of 35 ft and is located approximately 11 miles northwest of Hovland. Chester Lake lies within the Lake Superior North watershed, draining to Lake Superior via Portage Brook and the Pigeon River. There is a small carry-in access located on the north end of the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Chester Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ChesterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Chester (1670)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ChesterFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ChesterPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.625 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Chester 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 MN16-0033-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Chester Lake
Chester Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Chester Lake
What is the water quality grade for Chester Lake?
- Chester Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 51.97 acres.
Is Chester Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Chester 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 Chester Lake?
- Chester Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Chester Lake?
- Chester Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 14.2 feet. The lake covers 51.97 acres.
What fish are in Chester Lake?
- Fish species found in Chester Lake include brown trout, rainbow smelt, white sucker. Chester Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Chester Lake?
- Chester Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Devilfish Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Chester Lake across LakeGrade
10.8 mi away · 50 ft
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cook County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Chester Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Eastern Regional Office
USFSEASTERN2 samples · 2021–2023
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