Deadfish Lake
Deadfish Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 63 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Mean depth
- ~13 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Carlton County
Deadfish Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Carlton County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 13 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 21 other monitored lakes in Carlton County, Deadfish Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Deadfish Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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)
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 63 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 63 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Deadfish Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Deadfish Lake in Carlton 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 Deadfish Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~13 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Deadfish Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Deadfish Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Deadfish Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lac (0262)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.963 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +55.1 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.88 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Deadfish Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Deadfish Lake, 10 ft tall.
- Normal storage
- 321 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Undetermined
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN01827 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Deadfish Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2019 EPA reporting cycle.
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FDL_104 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 22 lakes in Carlton County
Nearby Lakes in Carlton County
Frequently asked questions about Deadfish Lake
What is the water quality grade for Deadfish Lake?
- Deadfish Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 63 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L.
Is Deadfish Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Deadfish Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Deadfish Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Deadfish Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 13 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Deadfish Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Carlton County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Deadfish Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
76 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa (MN)
FONDULAC_WQX76 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Color, APHA Platinum-Cobalt
- For determination of Copper by the Bicinchoninate 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