Ghost Lake
Ghost Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 105.28 acres.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 105 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Ghost 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 Ghost 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.
Ghost Lake is a 105-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 Ghost Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ghost Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ghost 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 Ghost Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 105 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 51% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ghost Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2014-07-22 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 33.51 | 0.24 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.78 | 0.21 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.53 | 2.73 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 3.95 | 1.37 lb |
| Walleye | 2.69 | 2.87 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.44 | 0.21 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Largemouth Bass
From the 2014-07-22 survey
Dead Horse Lake is located about four miles southwest of Marcel, MN in the Bigfork River watershed. Dead Horse has a total surface area of 97 acres, a littoral area of 54 acres (56%), and a maximum depth of 30 feet. There is no connectivity to facilitate fish passage. The small outlet drains to a wetland which the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ghost Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Dead HorseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dead Horse (0734)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Dead HorsePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.169 m/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Ghost 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 MN31-0624-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.42 km)
Graded lakes near Ghost Lake
Ghost Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Ghost Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ghost Lake?
- Ghost Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 105.28 acres.
Is Ghost Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Ghost Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Ghost Lake?
- Ghost Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 105.28 acres.
What fish are in Ghost Lake?
- Fish species found in Ghost Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch. Ghost Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA6 samples · 2020
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder