Island Lake
Island Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 44.34 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.1 ft
- Max depth
- 58 ft
- Area
- 44 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Clearwater County
Island Lake is a 44-acre mesotrophic lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 58 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including brown trout, green sunfish, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Clearwater County, Island Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Island Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Island Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Island Lake in Clearwater 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 | 58 ft |
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 60% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Island Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Green Sunfish | 115.84 | 0.08 lb |
| GOS | 16.67 | 0.09 lb |
| Rainbow Trout | 6.59 | 0.78 lb |
| Brown Trout | 3.00 | 3.2 lb |
| White Sucker | 0.97 | 2.37 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 0.50 | 0.74 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.
Green Sunfish
GOS
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
From the 2022-06-09 survey
Island Lake is a 44-acre lake with a maximum depth of 58 feet located 10 miles southwest of the village of Zerkel in Clearwater County. Rules specific to designated trout lakes can be found in the regulation book.The lake is located south of HWY 200 off of the Height of Land Forest Road. There is a DNR public water…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Island Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — IslandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Island (1330)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — IslandFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — IslandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 37 lakes in Clearwater County
Nearby Lakes in Clearwater County
Frequently asked questions about Island Lake
What is the water quality grade for Island Lake?
- Island Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 44.34 acres.
Is Island Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Island Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Island Lake?
- Island Lake has a maximum depth of 58 feet. The lake covers 44.34 acres.
What fish are in Island Lake?
- Fish species found in Island Lake include brown trout, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, rainbow trout, white sucker. Island Lake is located in Clearwater County, Minnesota.
Explore Island Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Island Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX40 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder