Davis Lake
Davis Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 75 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 59.52 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 60 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Aitkin County
Why Davis 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 Davis Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, 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.
Davis Lake is a 60-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-06-29. 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 Davis Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 75 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 75 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Davis Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Davis 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 Davis Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 64% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Davis Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1990-08-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 20.50 | 0.14 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 11.38 | 0.43 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.17 | 1.93 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 1.43 | 0.16 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.43 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 0.43 | 0.33 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1990-08-08 survey
The gill net index for northern pike was below the lake class 36 first quartile. The trap net indices for yellow bullhead, pumpkinseed, bluegill, and black crappie were below the lake class 36 first quartiles. The trap net index for brb was above the lake class 36 third quartile. Northern pike sampled (16 of 16 aged)…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Davis Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SteamboatFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.2 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Davis 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 MN01-0070-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.87 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Davis Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Aitking Agri Peat IncMcgregor · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MN0062375
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Davis Lake
Davis Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Davis Lake
What is the water quality grade for Davis Lake?
- Davis Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 75 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 59.52 acres.
Is Davis Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Davis Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Davis Lake?
- Davis Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 59.52 acres.
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder