Island Lake
Island Lake in Lyon County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 123 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 46.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 169.73 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 170 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lyon County
Why Island 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 Island Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, 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.
Island Lake is a 170-acre lake in Lyon County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including black bullhead, brown bullhead, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-07-19. 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 Island Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 123 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 46.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 70.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 123 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 46.8 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Island Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Island Lake in Lyon 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 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 29 field readings (2017–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Island Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 170 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Goose LakePublic
- Island LakePublic
- Wood LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Island Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-26 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 179.17 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 90.22 | 0.27 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 66.84 | 0.16 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 49.35 | 0.26 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 9.41 | 0.09 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.61 | 3.14 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.
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Green Sunfish
From the 2024-08-26 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Island Lake was conducted beginning on August 26, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Island Lake. 3 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
- —Fish Stocking History — IslandFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — IslandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
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 MN42-0096-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Island Lake
Island Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Lyon County
Frequently asked questions about Island Lake
What is the water quality grade for Island Lake?
- Island Lake in Lyon County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 123 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 46.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 169.73 acres.
Is Island Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Island Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 46.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Island Lake?
- Island Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 29 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Island Lake?
- Island Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 169.73 acres.
What fish are in Island Lake?
- Fish species found in Island Lake include black bullhead, brown bullhead, green sunfish, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch. Island Lake is located in Lyon County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Island Lake?
- Island Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Goose Lake, Island Lake, Wood Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Island Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA4 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 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