Dunbar Lake
Dunbar Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 267.72 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 268 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Dunbar Lake is a 268-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Dunbar Lake ranks #57 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 35.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 14.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Dunbar Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dunbar 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.
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Water Temperature
Dunbar Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 65°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 46 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dunbar Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 268 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 61% |
| 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 Dunbar Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2011-08-22 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 16.62 | 0.51 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.29 | 0.2 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.81 | 2.84 lb |
| CNM | 4.27 | — |
| Bluegill | 4.21 | 0.64 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.56 | 0.38 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2011-08-22 survey
Dunbar Lake is a class 34 lake located five miles west of Squaw Lake, MN. The Dunbar River exits the lake and flows into Round Lake. The lake has one earthen public access that is down a relatively steep hill on the west shore. The 2002 lake management plan indicates black crappie and bluegill as the primary species…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dunbar Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DunbarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dunbar (0673)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DunbarPublic 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 | +0.15 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -12.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #57 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Dunbar Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dunbar Lake?
- Dunbar Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 267.72 acres.
Is Dunbar Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Dunbar Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 14.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Dunbar Lake?
- Dunbar Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, from 46 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dunbar Lake?
- Dunbar Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 267.72 acres.
What fish are in Dunbar Lake?
- Fish species found in Dunbar Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Dunbar Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA30 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder