Island Lake
Island Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 3108.15 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 3,108 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 25
- Open water
- 202 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Island Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 35 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Island Lake is a 3,108-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Island Lake ranks #51 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 32.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 32.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Island Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Island Lake in Itasca 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 Island Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Island 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 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 51 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Island Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Island Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (11,588 cells/mL) on October 24, 2025.
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 | 35 ft |
| Surface Area | 3,108 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 14.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Island LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Island Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
24 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-09-11 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 60.28 | 1.29 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 45.82 | 0.18 lb |
| JND | 23.00 | — |
| Spottail Shiner | 12.24 | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | 8.95 | 1.47 lb |
| IOD | 6.69 | — |
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
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2024-09-11 survey
Island Lake is a class 27 lake located about five miles south of Northome, MN. Walleye are a primary management species and has received extensive Walleye stocking since 1943. In 2005, a 17 to 26 inch protected slot length limit was established. Walleye fry have been stocked annually since 2013 except for 2020, due to…
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 (0696)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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.25 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
Estimated open water season: 202 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2002-04-19 (2002) | 2003-04-27 (2003) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2015-11-27 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2004-04-24
EPA Impairment Status
Island 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 MN31-0913-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #51 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Island Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Island Lake
What is the water quality grade for Island Lake?
- Island Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 3108.15 acres.
Is Island Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Island Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Island Lake?
- Island Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 51 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Island Lake?
- Island Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake covers 3108.15 acres.
What fish are in Island Lake?
- Fish species found in Island Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, burbot, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Island Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Island Lake thaw?
- Island Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 25. Ice typically forms around Nov 13. The open water season is approximately 202 days.
Does Island Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Island Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (11,588 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Island Lake?
- Island Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Island Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Island Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA18 samples · 2021–2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate