Cut Foot Sioux Lake
Cut Foot Sioux Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 62°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Cut Foot Sioux Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Cut Foot Sioux Lake ranks #60 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Cut Foot Sioux Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cut Foot Sioux 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 Cut Foot Sioux Lake
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Water Temperature
Cut Foot Sioux Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 63°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 382 field readings (2023–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cut Foot Sioux Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Williams NarrowsPublic
- Deer LakePublic
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake #2Public
- Williams Narrows ResortSemi-private
Fishing Cut Foot Sioux 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 Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Cut Foot Sioux Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Public Water Access Sites — Cut Foot Sioux(Main Bay)Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.82 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -7.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #60 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Cut Foot Sioux Lake
What is the water quality grade for Cut Foot Sioux Lake?
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L.
Is Cut Foot Sioux Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Cut Foot Sioux Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Cut Foot Sioux Lake?
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in August, from 382 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Cut Foot Sioux Lake?
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Williams Narrows, Deer Lake, Cut Foot Sioux Lake #2, Williams Narrows Resort. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cut Foot Sioux Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
106 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX92 samples · 2024–2025 - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA14 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory