Devil'S Lake
Devil'S Lake in Kanabec County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 58.65 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.3 ft
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 59 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Kanabec County
Why Devil'S 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 Devil'S 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.
Devil'S Lake is a 59-acre lake in Kanabec County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet (14-foot average). Overall water quality is declining 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 2021-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Devil'S Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Devil'S Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Devil'S Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Devil'S Lake in Kanabec 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 Devil'S 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 |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Average Depth | 13.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 59 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 55% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Devil'S Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-07-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 31.08 | 0.29 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.04 | 0.12 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.00 | 0.26 lb |
| White Crappie | 3.88 | 0.23 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.95 | 0.18 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 1.90 | 1.64 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Black Crappie
From the 2007-07-09 survey
Minnesota lakes managed for fishing are grouped into classes based on physical, chemical, and biological similarities. Devils Lake is a small, clear, shallow lake with a relatively regular shape, which places it in lake class 33. Only one northern pike, 27.4 inches, was captured by the gill nets. The northern pike…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Devil'S Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DevilsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Devils (0239)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.113 m/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Devil'S 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 MN33-0036-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.57 km)
Graded lakes near Devil'S Lake
Devil'S Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kanabec County
Frequently asked questions about Devil'S Lake
What is the water quality grade for Devil'S Lake?
- Devil'S Lake in Kanabec County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 58.65 acres.
Is Devil'S Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Devil'S Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Devil'S Lake?
- Devil'S Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet and an average depth of 13.5 feet. The lake covers 58.65 acres.
Explore Devil'S Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Kanabec County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Rum River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Devil'S Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA8 samples · 2020–2021
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