Dixon Lake
Dixon Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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.
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 622 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 2
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Dixon Lake →
Next lake in Itasca County
Dixon Lake is a 622-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2025. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 19.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 34 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Dixon Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Dixon Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Dixon Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 622 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 77% |
| 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 Dixon Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
18 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-25 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BLH | 16.50 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 15.18 | 0.23 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 10.30 | 0.4 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 7.03 | 0.71 lb |
| JND | 6.87 | — |
| Northern Pike | 4.83 | 1.32 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.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.08 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (4 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-04-12 (2007) | 2014-05-06 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-11 (2006) | 2006-11-11 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-05-02
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0921-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #71 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Dixon Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Dixon Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dixon Lake?
- Dixon Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Dixon Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 19.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Dixon Lake?
- Dixon Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, 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.
When does Dixon Lake thaw?
- Dixon Lake typically has ice-out around May 2.
Explore Dixon Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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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)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate