Christianson Lake
Christianson Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 150.13 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 150 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lake County
Christianson Lake is a 150-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including black crappie, northern pike, and pumpkinseed. Public access is available. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Christianson Lake ranks #31 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Christianson Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Christianson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Christianson Lake in Lake 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
Christianson Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 39 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Christianson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 Christianson Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 24.38 | 0.26 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.98 | 0.61 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.61 | 0.19 lb |
| Walleye | 3.08 | 2.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.28 | 2.23 lb |
| White Sucker | 2.00 | 0.68 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.
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
Pumpkinseed
Walleye
From the 2024-06-24 survey
Christianson Lake is an approximately 150-acre lake with brown colored water and a maximum depth of eight feet located sixteen miles north of Two Harbors. The public access is within the road right of way of Lake County 202 (Christianson Lake Road) and consists of an earthen boat ramp with limited space to park…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Christianson Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ChristiansonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Christianson (0860)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ChristiansonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #31 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Christianson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Christianson Lake?
- Christianson Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 150.13 acres.
Is Christianson Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Christianson Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Christianson Lake?
- Christianson Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 39 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Christianson Lake?
- Christianson Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 150.13 acres.
What fish are in Christianson Lake?
- Fish species found in Christianson Lake include black crappie, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Christianson Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Explore Christianson Lake across LakeGrade
2 documented falls within 12.5 mi, nearest Gooseberry Falls (Middle Falls)
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA14 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder