Iron Chief Complex Lake
Iron Chief Complex Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 24.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 262.1 ft. Surface area: 207.44 acres.
- Clarity
- 24.5 ft
- Max depth
- 262.1 ft
- Area
- 207 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Iron Chief Complex 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 Iron Chief Complex 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.
Iron Chief Complex Lake is a 207-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 262 feet. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including lake trout, largemouth bass, and rainbow smelt. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-11. 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 Iron Chief Complex Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 24.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 31.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 24.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 31 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Iron Chief Complex Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Iron Chief Complex 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Iron Chief Complex Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 262.1 ft |
| Surface Area | 207 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Kinney Mine PitPublic
- Grant Pit LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Iron Chief Complex Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2008-06-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| RBS | 8.34 | 0.04 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 1.66 | 0.05 lb |
| Bluegill | 0.75 | — |
| BNS | 0.25 | — |
| White Sucker | 0.22 | 2.02 lb |
| Black Crappie | 0.22 | 1.08 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
Green Sunfish
White Sucker
Black Crappie
From the 2008-06-09 survey
Iron Chief Complex is a series of three abandoned mine pits (now connected) near the town of Buhl. Like most pit lakes, the water is relatively infertile and clear. Rainy and windy weather occasionally loosens sediment from the pit walls causing the water to cloud up temporarily. There is a city-owned public access on…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Iron Chief Complex Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Iron Chief ComplexFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Iron Chief ComplexFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Iron Chief Complex Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Central Iron Range Sanitary Sewer District WwtpChisholm · 3 mi away · NPDES MN0020117MajorRecent violation
- Buhl-Kinney WwtfBuhl · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MN0022969
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 Iron Chief Complex Lake
Iron Chief Complex Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Iron Chief Complex Lake
What is the water quality grade for Iron Chief Complex Lake?
- Iron Chief Complex Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 24.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 262.1 ft. Surface area: 207.44 acres.
Is Iron Chief Complex Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Iron Chief Complex 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 Iron Chief Complex Lake?
- Iron Chief Complex Lake has a maximum depth of 262.1 feet. The lake covers 207.44 acres.
What fish are in Iron Chief Complex Lake?
- Fish species found in Iron Chief Complex Lake include lake trout, largemouth bass, rainbow smelt. Iron Chief Complex Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Iron Chief Complex Lake?
- Iron Chief Complex Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Kinney Mine Pit, Grant Pit Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Iron Chief Complex Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements 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
MNPCA2 samples · 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
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