Divide Lake
Divide Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 61.11 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 61 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lake County
Why Divide 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 Divide Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Divide Lake is a 61-acre lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 22 feet (10-foot average). The lake supports 3 documented fish species including rainbow trout, splake, and white sucker. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Divide Lake water quality
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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 Divide Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.1 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Divide Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Divide Lake in Lake 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 Divide Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Divide Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in Oct (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 67 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Divide Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Average Depth | 9.7 ft |
| Surface Area | 61 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 60% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Divide Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
22 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-01 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 295.21 | — |
| BST | 43.08 | — |
| GOS | 14.23 | 0.06 lb |
| SPT | 13.33 | 0.59 lb |
| IOD | 13.00 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 4.55 | 0.39 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.
GOS
SPT
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-06-01 survey
Divide Lake is a designated stream trout lake that is stocked annually with yearling Rainbow Trout and fingerling Splake. A survey was completed in 2025 to monitor the amount of cool, well oxygenated habitat available for trout during the summer. Automated temperature loggers were suspended at depths of six, twelve,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Divide Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DivideFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Divide (0865)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — DivideFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DividePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.047 m/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Divide 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 MN38-0256-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Divide Lake
Divide Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Divide Lake
What is the water quality grade for Divide Lake?
- Divide Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 61.11 acres.
Is Divide Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Divide Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Divide Lake?
- Divide Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 67 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Divide Lake?
- Divide Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet and an average depth of 9.7 feet. The lake covers 61.11 acres.
What fish are in Divide Lake?
- Fish species found in Divide Lake include rainbow trout, splake, white sucker. Divide Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Explore Divide Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Eastern Regional Office
USFSEASTERN2 samples · 2021–2023
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