Devil'S Lake
Kanabec County, MinnesotaLimited DataMesotrophic
Devil'S Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade.
The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. A maximum depth of 19 ft puts Devil'S Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. The lake is compact at 59 acres, with 1.3 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Devil'S Lake ranks 1 of 7 in Kanabec County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.
No invasive species are currently listed at Devil'S Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Devil'S Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Devil'S Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.3 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Average Depth | 13.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 58.65 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 55% |
| Public Access | No |
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.159 m/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 7 lakes in Kanabec County
Nearby Lakes in Kanabec County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Devil'S Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DevilsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Devils (0239)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
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)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2021-09-06
Monitoring stations: 1