Dyers Lake
Cook County, Minnesota70 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Dyers Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 23 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Dyers Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 69.73 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 1, 2021 caught 0.67 northern pike per trap net at Dyers Lake. DNR survey details →
Dyers Lake is a 70-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Dyers Lake ranks #42 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-25. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Dyers Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing7 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Dyers Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Dyers Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Dyers Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Dyers Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 6.3 ft. Phosphorus 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 13.7 µg/L. TSI 52.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 21.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 13.7µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 52 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Dyers Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Dyers Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 66°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (50°F) to its warmest (66°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 63 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dyers Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 1, 2021 caught 0.67 northern pike per trap net at Dyers Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Dyers Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-01 (Targeted Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2021-06-01 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 54.67 | 0.1 lb | |
| Golden Shiner | 48.12 | 4–6 in 2021-06-01 | 0.04 lb |
| White Sucker | 19.58 | 7 in 2021-06-01 | 0.43 lb |
| Brook Trout | 10.27 | 7 in 2011-06-06 | 0.25 lb |
| Black Crappie | 10.15 | 3–12 in 2021-06-01 | 0.35 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.15 | 5–9 in 2021-06-01 | 0.13 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Golden Shiner
White Sucker
Brook Trout
Black Crappie
From the 2021-06-01 survey
Dyers Lake is located about four miles west of Schroeder and has an area of 69 acres with a maximum depth of 23 feet. There is a public access with a gravel boat ramp and dock at the end of Cook County 30 (Dyers Lake Road) south from Cook County 1. A targeted survey was completed in the spring of 2021 to monitor the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dyers Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DyersFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dyers (0988)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
23 ft
Surface area
70 acres
Shoreline
1.4 mi
Littoral zone
84%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
16 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,211 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Dyers Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dyers Lake in Cook 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 Dyers Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Dyers Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dyers Lake
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2024–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving2 years
EPA Impairment Status
Dyers Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN16-0634-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Dyers Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Minnesota Power - Taconite Harbor EnergySchroeder · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MN0002208MajorRecent violation
- Cliffs Erie-Taconite Harbor DockSchroeder · 2.9 mi away · NPDES MN0067962
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Dyers Lake
Where is Dyers Lake?
- Dyers Lake is a lake in Cook County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Dyers Lake?
- Dyers Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 69.73 acres.
Is Dyers Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Dyers Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Dyers Lake?
- Dyers Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October, from 63 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dyers Lake?
- Dyers Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 69.73 acres.
What fish are in Dyers Lake?
- Fish species found in Dyers Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow perch. Dyers Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Dyers Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 1, 2021 caught 0.67 northern pike per trap net at Dyers Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Dyers Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at Dyers Lake?
- Public access to Dyers Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Dyers Lake across LakeQuality
3 documented falls within 12.8 mi, nearest Caribou Falls
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cook County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Dyers Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA24 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder