Dodo Lake
Dodo Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 53 ft. Surface area: 91.89 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.8 ft
- Typical in July
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 53 ft
- Area
- 92 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 23
- Open water
- 212 days
Next lake in St. Louis County
Dodo Lake is a 92-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 53 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Dodo Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 9.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Dodo Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dodo Lake in St. Louis 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 Dodo Lake
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Water Temperature
Dodo Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dodo Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 53 ft |
| Surface Area | 92 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 39% |
| Public Access | No |
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 Dodo Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2000-07-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 6.93 | 1.69 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.00 | 1.64 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.33 | 0.29 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.50 | 0.51 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.88 | 0.2 lb |
| Walleye | 0.38 | 1.11 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.
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
Bluegill
Black Crappie
From the 2000-07-10 survey
Results of the 2000 lake survey indicate that Dodo Lake is currently dominated by small northern pike, bluegills, and largemouth bass. Northern pike catch rates are very high for lakes in this class, and most are of the "hammerhandle" variety. The bluegill population is also at historic highs thanks to two strong year…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dodo Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DodoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dodo (1820)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.315 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.91 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.29 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (26 observations).
Estimated open water season: 212 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-15 (2024) | 2022-05-06 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-10 (2017) | 2016-12-09 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-19
EPA Impairment Status
Dodo 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 MN69-0521-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.94 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Dodo Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dodo Lake?
- Dodo Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 53 ft. Surface area: 91.89 acres.
Is Dodo Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Dodo Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Dodo Lake?
- Dodo Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in July, from 10 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dodo Lake?
- Dodo Lake has a maximum depth of 53 feet. The lake covers 91.89 acres.
What fish are in Dodo Lake?
- Fish species found in Dodo Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Dodo Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
When does Dodo Lake thaw?
- Dodo Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23. Ice typically forms around Nov 21. The open water season is approximately 212 days.
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Where this data comes from
75 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA75 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate