Erskine Lake
Erskine Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 56 ft. Surface area: 39.76 acres.
- Clarity
- 18 ft
- Max depth
- 56 ft
- Area
- 40 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Erskine Lake is a 40-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 56 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including rainbow trout, splake, and white sucker. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Erskine Lake ranks #46 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. 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)
Crystal clear, you can see 18 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Erskine Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 56 ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 40% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Sucker LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Erskine Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Erskine 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 MN31-0316-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.15 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #46 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Erskine Lake
What is the water quality grade for Erskine Lake?
- Erskine Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 56 ft. Surface area: 39.76 acres.
Is Erskine Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Erskine Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Erskine Lake?
- Erskine Lake has a maximum depth of 56 feet. The lake covers 39.76 acres.
What fish are in Erskine Lake?
- Fish species found in Erskine Lake include rainbow trout, splake, white sucker. Erskine Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Erskine Lake?
- Erskine Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sucker Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Erskine Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 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
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory