Dead Horse Lake
Dead Horse Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 105.28 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 105 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Dead Horse Lake is a 105-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Dead Horse Lake ranks #40 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Dead Horse Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dead Horse 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.
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Water Temperature
Dead Horse Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 57 field readings (2021–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dead Horse Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 105 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 51% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dead Horse Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2014-07-22 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 33.51 | 0.24 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.78 | 0.21 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.53 | 2.73 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 3.95 | 1.37 lb |
| Walleye | 2.69 | 2.87 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.44 | 0.21 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
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Largemouth Bass
From the 2014-07-22 survey
Dead Horse Lake is located about four miles southwest of Marcel, MN in the Bigfork River watershed. Dead Horse has a total surface area of 97 acres, a littoral area of 54 acres (56%), and a maximum depth of 30 feet. There is no connectivity to facilitate fish passage. The small outlet drains to a wetland which the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dead Horse Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Dead HorseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dead Horse (0734)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Dead HorsePublic 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 | -0.169 m/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Dead Horse 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 MN31-0624-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.42 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #40 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Dead Horse Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dead Horse Lake?
- Dead Horse Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 105.28 acres.
Is Dead Horse Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Dead Horse Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Dead Horse Lake?
- Dead Horse Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 57 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dead Horse Lake?
- Dead Horse Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 105.28 acres.
What fish are in Dead Horse Lake?
- Fish species found in Dead Horse Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch. Dead Horse Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
47 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA47 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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