Dixon Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota622 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Dixon Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 29 ft max depth
- Public access
Dixon Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 622.42 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 25, 2025 caught 1.18 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Dixon Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–34 inches. DNR survey details →
Dixon Lake is a 622-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Dixon Lake ranks #71 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-02. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Dixon Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around May 2
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Dixon Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Dixon Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Dixon Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Dixon Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 19.6 µg/L. TSI 55.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 34µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 19.6µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 55 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Dixon Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Dixon Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 67°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (58°F) to its warmest (67°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 137 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dixon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 25, 2025 caught 1.18 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Dixon Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–34 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Dixon Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
18 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-25 (Targeted Survey).
18 surveys on file · most recent 2025-08-25 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 15.18 | 5–10 in 2022-06-20 | 0.23 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 10.30 | 6–11 in 2022-06-20 | 0.4 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 7.03 | 7–15 in 2022-06-20 | 0.71 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.83 | 10–34 in 2022-06-20 | 1.32 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Northern Pike
From the 2025-08-25 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Dixon Lake, which is located partially within Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe nation, was conducted on August 25th and 27th, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dixon Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DixonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dixon (0675)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — DixonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DixonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
29 ft
Surface area
622 acres
Shoreline
9.1 mi
Littoral zone
77%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
82 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,296 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Dixon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dixon 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Dixon Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Dixon Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dixon Lake
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2024–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving2 years
Phosphorus
Improving-1.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
May 2
Earliest Apr 12, 2007 · Latest May 6, 2014
Most recent ice-out
May 2
2018
4 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Dixon Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0921-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Dixon Lake
Where is Dixon Lake?
- Dixon Lake is a lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Dixon Lake?
- Dixon Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 622.42 acres.
Is Dixon Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Dixon Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Dixon Lake?
- Dixon Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October, from 137 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dixon Lake?
- Dixon Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 622.42 acres.
What fish are in Dixon Lake?
- Fish species found in Dixon Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, golden redhorse, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Dixon Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Dixon Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 25, 2025 caught 1.18 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Dixon Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–34 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Dixon Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Dixon Lake thaw?
- Dixon Lake typically has ice-out around May 2.
Can I fish at Dixon Lake?
- Public access to Dixon Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Dixon Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare Dixon Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
49 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX35 samples · 2024–2025 - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA14 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate