Irene Lake
Douglas County, Minnesota639 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Irene Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 44 ft max depth
- Public access
Irene Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 639.26 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 3, 2022 caught 0.09 walleye per trap net at Irene Lake. DNR survey details →
Irene Lake is a 639-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 44 feet (20-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Irene Lake ranks #26 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Irene Lake covers about 640 acres in Douglas County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is April 10, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Irene Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Irene Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water9.8 ft of visibility
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 10
- Deep water44 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Irene Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Irene Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Irene Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Irene Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.4 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 9.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 24µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 7.4µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 48 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Irene Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Irene Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (53°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 35 field readings (2011–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Irene Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 3, 2022 caught 0.09 walleye per trap net at Irene Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Irene Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-03 (Targeted Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2022-08-03 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 44.70 | ||
| Largemouth Bass | 22.39 | 7–17 in 2022-08-03 | 1.07 lb |
| Bluegill | 20.08 | 3–7 in 2022-08-03 | 0.24 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2022-08-03 survey
A summer trap net survey in Irene Lake was conducted by DNR Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff on August 3-5, 2022. Twelve trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 10 species of fish, including one that is tolerant of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Irene Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — IreneFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Irene (1063)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — IreneFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — IrenePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
44 ft
Average depth
19.8 ft
Surface area
639 acres
Shoreline
4.2 mi
Littoral zone
38%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
12 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,371 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Irene Lake (North)Public
- Irene Lake (East)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Irene Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Irene Lake in Douglas 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 Irene Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Irene 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.9 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.32 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 10
Earliest Mar 24, 2012 · Latest May 3, 2008
Typical ice-in
Dec 12
Earliest Nov 27, 2007 · Latest Dec 20, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Mar 24
2012
12 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Irene Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN21-0076-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Irene Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Miltona WwtpMiltona · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MN0024155Recent violation
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.
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Irene Lake
Where is Irene Lake?
- Irene Lake is a lake in Douglas County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Irene Lake?
- Irene Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 639.26 acres.
Is Irene Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Irene Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Irene Lake?
- Irene Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 35 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Irene Lake?
- Irene Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet and an average depth of 19.8 feet. The lake covers 639.26 acres.
What fish are in Irene Lake?
- Fish species found in Irene Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Irene Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Irene Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 3, 2022 caught 0.09 walleye per trap net at Irene Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Irene Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Irene Lake thaw?
- Irene Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 10. Ice typically forms around Dec 12. The open water season is approximately 246 days.
Are there boat ramps on Irene Lake?
- Irene Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Irene Lake (North), Irene Lake (East). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Irene Lake?
- Irene Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Irene Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
90 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
MNPCA90 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate