Dunning Lake
Dunning Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 18.5 ft visibility.
- Clarity
- 18.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 215 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Dunning 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 Dunning 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.
Dunning Lake is a lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Dunning 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 Dunning Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 18.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Dunning Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dunning 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 Dunning Lake
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Water Temperature
Dunning Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dunning Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Dunning Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.168 m/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (34 observations).
Estimated open water season: 215 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-29 (2000) | 2008-05-01 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-06 (2018) | 1999-12-08 (1999) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-23
Graded lakes near Dunning Lake
Dunning Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Dunning Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dunning Lake?
- Dunning Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 18.5 ft visibility.
Is Dunning Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Dunning Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Dunning Lake?
- Dunning Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dunning Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Dunning Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
When does Dunning Lake thaw?
- Dunning Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Nov 19. The open water season is approximately 215 days.
Explore Dunning Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
38 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA38 samples · 2020–2024
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate