Dode Lake
Dode Lake in Itasca 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: 25 ft. Surface area: 87.97 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.3 ft
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 88 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Dode 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 Dode 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.
Dode Lake is a 88-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-06-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Dode 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 Dode 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 Dode Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dode 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Dode Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 88 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 84% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Hart LakePublic
Fishing Dode Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1988-06-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 5.00 | 0.37 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.75 | 3.24 lb |
| Bluegill | 3.50 | 0.16 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.25 | 0.22 lb |
| Black Crappie | 0.75 | 0.1 lb |
| White Sucker | 0.75 | 3 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1988-06-29 survey
NORTHERN PIKE AND LARGEMOUTH BASS ARE PREDOMINANT PREDATOR SPECIES. NORTHERN PIKE ABUNDANCE IS ABOVE STATE AND LOCAL MEDIAN FOR THIS TYPE OF LAKE AND ARE GOOD AVERAGE SIZE. THE LARGEMOUTH ABUNDANCD RATE PROBABLY DOESN'T REPRESENT THE TRUE DENSITY OF THIS SPECIES AS 47 YOUNG-OF-YEAR WERE CAUGHT IN 9,000 SQUARE FEET OF…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dode Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DodeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dode (0579)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.61 m/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Dode 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 MN31-0028-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.5 km)
Graded lakes near Dode Lake
Dode Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Dode Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dode Lake?
- Dode Lake in Itasca 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: 25 ft. Surface area: 87.97 acres.
Is Dode Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Dode 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 Dode Lake?
- Dode Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 87.97 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Dode Lake?
- Dode Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hart Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA10 samples · 2020–2022
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory