Irene Lake
Irene Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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.
- Clarity
- 9.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 44 ft
- Area
- 639 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 10
- Open water
- 246 days
Next lake in Douglas County
Irene Lake is a 639-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 44 feet (20-foot average). Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 3 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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.
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Water Temperature
Irene Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 44 ft |
| Average Depth | 19.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 639 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Irene Lake (North)Public
- Irene Lake (East)Public
- Parson Park (Northeast)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-03 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 44.70 | — |
| BCS | 29.76 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 22.39 | 1.07 lb |
| Bluegill | 20.08 | 0.24 lb |
| BKF | 13.99 | — |
| BNS | 13.65 | — |
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.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.105 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.9 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.32 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (12 observations).
Estimated open water season: 246 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-24 (2012) | 2008-05-03 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2007-11-27 (2007) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2012-03-24
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #26 of 37 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Irene Lake holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Irene Lake
What is the water quality grade for Irene Lake?
- Irene Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Irene Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Irene Lake?
- Irene Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, 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.
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 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Irene Lake (North), Irene Lake (East), Parson Park (Northeast). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Irene Lake across LakeGrade
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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)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate