Homer Lake
Homer Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 433.96 acres.
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 434 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cook County
Why Homer 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 Homer 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.
Homer Lake is a 434-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 22 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including bluegill, burbot, and northern pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-13. 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 Homer Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Homer Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Homer 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Homer Lake
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Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Homer Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (524,807 cells/mL) on June 6, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 434 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 92% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Homer LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Homer Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 2.48 | 1.28 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.19 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.12 | 1.49 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.95 | 3.09 lb |
| BNS | 0.96 | — |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.44 | 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.
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
White Sucker
From the 2022-07-05 survey
Homer Lake is a relatively shallow, deeply bog-stained lake, currently managed for Walleye and Northern Pike. The lake lies partially within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, therefore about two thirds of the lake is open to motorized uses. Like most lakes in this area, it supports a relatively simple fish…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Homer Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HomerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Homer (1686)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HomerPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.046 m/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Homer 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 MN16-0406-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Homer Lake
Homer Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Homer Lake
What is the water quality grade for Homer Lake?
- Homer Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 433.96 acres.
Is Homer Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Homer 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 Homer Lake?
- Homer Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 433.96 acres.
What fish are in Homer Lake?
- Fish species found in Homer Lake include bluegill, burbot, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Homer Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
Does Homer Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Homer Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (524,807 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Homer Lake?
- Homer Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Homer Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Homer Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Cook County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
33 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA33 samples · 2020–2025
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory