Dam Lake
Dam Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 597.66 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- Area
- 598 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 16
- Open water
- 226 days
Next lake in Aitkin County
Why Dam 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 Dam 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.
Dam Lake is a 598-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 48 feet (19-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-02. 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 Dam Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Dam Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dam Lake in Aitkin 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 Dam Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Dam Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Oct (about 72°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 77 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Average Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 598 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 43% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Dam LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dam Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
20 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-23 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 31.50 | — |
| Bluegill | 27.89 | 0.17 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 11.29 | 1.01 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.18 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 2.93 | 0.85 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.93 | 2.21 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Yellow Bass
From the 2025-07-23 survey
This report includes results from multiple targeted surveys (TS) conducted throughout Aitkin County in 2025. Bigmouth Buffalo are present throughout Aitkin County. They are most abundant in the Mississippi River but are also common in lakes that have direct or distant connections to the Mississippi River via…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dam Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DamFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dam (0076)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — DamFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DamPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.118 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (15 observations).
Estimated open water season: 226 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-04-01 (2016) | 2008-04-26 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-16 (2014) | 2015-12-23 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-16
EPA Impairment Status
Dam 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 MN01-0096-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Dam Lake
Dam Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Dam Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dam Lake?
- Dam Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 597.66 acres.
Is Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Dam Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Dam Lake?
- Dam Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 77 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dam Lake?
- Dam Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet and an average depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 597.66 acres.
What fish are in Dam Lake?
- Fish species found in Dam Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Dam Lake is located in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
When does Dam Lake thaw?
- Dam Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 16. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 226 days.
Are there boat ramps on Dam Lake?
- Dam Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dam Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Dam Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
33 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA33 samples · 2020–2025
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