Chisago Lake
Chisago Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 943.96 acres.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 944 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 1
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Chisago Lake →
Next lake in Chisago County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Chisago Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 5 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Chisago Lake is a 944-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Chisago County, Chisago Lake ranks #19 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 14.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Chisago Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chisago Lake in Chisago 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Chisago Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Chisago Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 944 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 13.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 74% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Chisago Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-25 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 36.99 | 1.25 lb |
| Bluegill | 29.56 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 22.52 | — |
| JND | 19.43 | — |
| BKF | 13.00 | — |
| Black Crappie | 9.26 | 0.19 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
BKF
Black Crappie
From the 2022-07-25 survey
Chisago Lake is a moderately fertile 944 acre lake located in southern Chisago County bordering Chisago City. The lake is broadly connected to South Lindstrom Lake by a natural channel. Either lake can be accessed by a concrete public boat ramp located in the channel between lakes. The two lakes are somewhat…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Chisago Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ChisagoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ChisagoFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.026 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.82 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.72 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (7 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-16 (2016) | 2003-04-12 (2003) |
| Ice-In | 2003-12-03 (2003) | 2003-12-03 (2003) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-31
EPA Impairment Status
Chisago 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 MN13-0012-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.81 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #19 of 30 lakes in Chisago County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Chisago Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about Chisago Lake
What is the water quality grade for Chisago Lake?
- Chisago Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 943.96 acres.
Is Chisago Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Chisago Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 14.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Chisago Lake?
- Chisago Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 943.96 acres.
What fish are in Chisago Lake?
- Fish species found in Chisago Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Chisago Lake is located in Chisago County, Minnesota.
When does Chisago Lake thaw?
- Chisago Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 1.
Explore Chisago Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Chisago County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
235 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA235 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate