Cramer Lake
Cramer Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 4 ft. Surface area: 68.31 acres.
- Max depth
- 4 ft
- Area
- 68 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lake County
Cramer Lake is a 68-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 4 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including brook trout, northern pike, and pumpkinseed. Public access is available. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Cramer Lake ranks #27 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Cramer Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cramer 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Cramer Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 4 ft |
| Surface Area | 68 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2 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 Cramer Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Pumpkinseed | 88.57 | 0.06 lb |
| BNS | 47.50 | — |
| GOS | 11.66 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 10.69 | 0.29 lb |
| White Sucker | 10.67 | 2.8 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.97 | 1.76 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.
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
Northern Pike
From the 2019-06-25 survey
Cramer Lake is located 9 miles northeast of Finland in the Superior National Forest. Public access is a 30 yard carry in along Lake County Highway 7 with a small parking area suitable for 2 vehicles. The lake has an area of 68 acres with a maximum depth of 4 feet. This standard survey was conducted the week of June…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Cramer Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CramerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Cramer (0753)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CramerPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Cramer Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0016-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.26 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #27 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Cramer Lake holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Cramer Lake
What is the water quality grade for Cramer Lake?
- Cramer Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 4 ft. Surface area: 68.31 acres.
Is Cramer Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Cramer Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Cramer Lake?
- Cramer Lake has a maximum depth of 4 feet. The lake covers 68.31 acres.
What fish are in Cramer Lake?
- Fish species found in Cramer Lake include brook trout, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow perch. Cramer Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Explore Cramer Lake across LakeGrade
3 documented falls within 14.7 mi, nearest Caribou Falls
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA6 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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