Gilbert Pit Lake
Gilbert Pit Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 443 ft. Surface area: 243.41 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Max depth
- 443 ft
- Area
- 243 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Gilbert Pit 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 Gilbert Pit Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Gilbert Pit Lake is a 243-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 443 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including bluegill, hybrid sunfish, and lake trout. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-06-25. 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 Gilbert Pit Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Gilbert Pit Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gilbert Pit Lake in St. Louis 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 443 ft |
| Surface Area | 243 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 8% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake Ore-B-GonePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Gilbert Pit Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-26 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| RBS | 11.50 | 0.04 lb |
| Rock Bass | 4.58 | 0.19 lb |
| Rainbow Trout | 3.48 | 0.76 lb |
| White Sucker | 3.47 | 0.93 lb |
| Walleye | 3.17 | 2.47 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.43 | 0.09 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.
RBS
Rock Bass
White Sucker
Walleye
From the 2023-06-26 survey
Gilbert Pit (Lake Ore-B-Gone) is a 243-acre mine pit located near Gilbert. The city of Gilbert owns and maintains a public park on the northwest side of the lake that includes a concrete boat ramp and parking for numerous vehicles. The lake has a maximum depth of 443 feet and extremely clear water. On June 26, 2023,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Gilbert Pit Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Gilbert PitFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Gilbert PitFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Gilbert PitPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.87 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Gilbert Pit 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 MN69-1306-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Gilbert Pit Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Gilbert WwtpGilbert · 0.7 mi away · NPDES MN0020125
- Laurentian Mining AreaVirginia · 1 mi away · NPDES MN0059633
- Mckinley WwtpMckinley · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MN0024031
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.
Graded lakes near Gilbert Pit Lake
Gilbert Pit Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Gilbert Pit Lake
What is the water quality grade for Gilbert Pit Lake?
- Gilbert Pit Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 443 ft. Surface area: 243.41 acres.
Is Gilbert Pit Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Gilbert Pit 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 Gilbert Pit Lake?
- Gilbert Pit Lake has a maximum depth of 443 feet. The lake covers 243.41 acres.
What fish are in Gilbert Pit Lake?
- Fish species found in Gilbert Pit Lake include bluegill, hybrid sunfish, lake trout, largemouth bass, northern pike, rainbow smelt, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch. Gilbert Pit Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Gilbert Pit Lake?
- Gilbert Pit Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Ore-B-Gone. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Gilbert Pit Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2024
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
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