Dark Lake
Dark Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 230.98 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 231 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Dark 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 Dark 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.
Dark Lake is a 231-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-08. 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 Dark Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 3.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Dark Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dark Lake in St. Louis 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 Dark Lake
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Water Temperature
Dark Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 61°F. Usually warmest in Aug (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 130 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dark Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 231 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 60% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Mud (Knuckley) LakePublic
- Dark LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dark Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Dark Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0790-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Dark Lake
Dark Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Dark Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dark Lake?
- Dark Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 230.98 acres.
Is Dark Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Dark 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 Dark Lake?
- Dark Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, from 130 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dark Lake?
- Dark Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 230.98 acres.
What fish are in Dark Lake?
- Fish species found in Dark Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Dark Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Dark Lake?
- Dark Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mud (Knuckley) Lake, Dark Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Dark Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
63 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA63 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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