Crescent Lake
Crescent Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 755.48 acres.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 755 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 12
Next lake in Cook County
Why Crescent 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 Crescent 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.
Crescent Lake is a 755-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, and muskellunge. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-11. 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 Crescent Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Crescent Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crescent 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 Crescent Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 755 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 14 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 74% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Crescent LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crescent Lake
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (3 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2026-05-04 (2026) | 2023-05-12 (2023) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-05-04
EPA Impairment Status
Crescent 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 MN16-0454-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Crescent Lake
Crescent Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Crescent Lake
What is the water quality grade for Crescent Lake?
- Crescent Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 755.48 acres.
Is Crescent Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Crescent 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 Crescent Lake?
- Crescent Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 755.48 acres.
What fish are in Crescent Lake?
- Fish species found in Crescent Lake include hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, tiger muskellunge, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Crescent Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
When does Crescent Lake thaw?
- Crescent Lake typically has ice-out around May 12.
Are there boat ramps on Crescent Lake?
- Crescent Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Crescent Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Crescent Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2025
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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate