Clearwater Lake
Clearwater Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 131.59 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 132 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 218 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Clearwater 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 Clearwater Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. 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.
Clearwater Lake is a 132-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Overall water quality is improving 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 2023-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 Clearwater Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Clearwater Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Clearwater Lake in Itasca 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 Clearwater Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 132 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 95% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Clearwater Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1983-07-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 67.88 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 15.75 | 0.18 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 12.75 | 0.28 lb |
| Northern Pike | 12.63 | 1.21 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.13 | 0.22 lb |
| Bowfin | 0.63 | 4.16 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1983-07-25 survey
VERY HIGH BULLHEAD, NORTHERN PIKE AND PERCH POPULATIONS. FISH SPECIES COMPOSITION IS INDICA- TIVE OF A WINTERKILL LAKE.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Clearwater Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ClearwaterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Clearwater (0572)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.465 m/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (76 observations).
Estimated open water season: 218 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-22 (2012) | 2013-05-10 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-03 (2017) | 2016-12-06 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-05
Graded lakes near Clearwater Lake
Clearwater Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Clearwater Lake
What is the water quality grade for Clearwater Lake?
- Clearwater Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 131.59 acres.
Is Clearwater Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Clearwater 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 Clearwater Lake?
- Clearwater Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 131.59 acres.
When does Clearwater Lake thaw?
- Clearwater Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Nov 21. The open water season is approximately 218 days.
Explore Clearwater Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate