Fox Lake
Itasca County, MinnesotaLimited DataMesotrophic
On the LakeGrade scale Fox Lake grades a B, with clarity at 12.8 ft and phosphorus readings still being added placing it above the Minnesota median.
Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Fox Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. Fox Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 75 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. Fox Lake covers 262 acres alongside 4.7 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Within Itasca County's 141 graded lakes, Fox Lake ranks 74 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.
No invasive species are currently listed at Fox Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Fox Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 12.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.8 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 75 ft |
| Surface Area | 262.49 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 74% |
| Public Access | No |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #74 of 141 lakes in Itasca County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Fox Lake holds Grade B. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Fox Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1987-07-27 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 14.80 | 0.41 lb |
| Bluegill | 8.83 | 0.1 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.09 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.44 | 2.35 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.77 | 0.22 lb |
| Rock Bass | 0.92 | 0.17 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1987-07-27 survey
NORTHERN CISCO, NORTHERN PIKE, AND PUMPKINSEED POPULATIONS ARE ABOVE MEDIANS BUT NORTHERN PIKE POPULATIONS HAVE GONE DOWN FROM THE 1974 AND 1980 SAMPLING. WHITE SUCKER AND YELLOW PERCH POPULATIONS ARE BELOW MEDIANS AND THE PERCH POPU- LATION HAS GONE DOWN FROM 1974. ALL OTHER POPULA- TIONS APPEAR TO BE NORMAL AND HAVE…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fox Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FoxFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Fox Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0540-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.72 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2020-09-19
Monitoring stations: 1