Dyers Lake
Dyers Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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.
- Clarity
- 6.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 70 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cook County
Dyers Lake is a 70-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 with 1 public boat landing. 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. 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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 21.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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.
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Water Temperature
Dyers Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 70 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 84% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Taconite Safe HarborPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dyers Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-01 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 54.67 | 0.1 lb |
| GOS | 48.12 | 0.04 lb |
| White Sucker | 19.58 | 0.43 lb |
| Brook Trout | 10.27 | 0.25 lb |
| Black Crappie | 10.15 | 0.35 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.15 | 0.13 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.
GOS
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.63 m/yr | 2 |
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #42 of 44 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Dyers Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Dyers Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dyers Lake?
- Dyers Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Dyers Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 13.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Dyers Lake?
- Dyers Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, 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.
Are there boat ramps on Dyers Lake?
- Dyers Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Taconite Safe Harbor. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Dyers Lake across LakeGrade
3 documented falls within 12.8 mi, nearest Caribou Falls
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cook County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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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)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory