Island Lake

Island Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. Island Lake reaches 35 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. With 3,108 acres of surface and 14.3 miles of shoreline, Island Lake is a large water by Minnesota standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Island Lake sits at rank 105 of 141 in Itasca County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Island Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 15 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Island Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.