Island Lake
Island Lake in Pine County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 526.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 527 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 225 days
Next lake in Pine 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, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. 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.
Island Lake is a 527-acre lake in Pine County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-23. 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.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Island Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Island Lake in Pine 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 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 70°F) and coldest in Jul (about 67°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2016–2016) 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 high (105,682 cells/mL) on November 22, 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 | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 527 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 51% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Island LakePublic
- Sturgeon LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Island Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-05-06 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CNM | 33.52 | — |
| Bluegill | 32.64 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 24.54 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 21.30 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.91 | 0.61 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.43 | 0.3 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2025-05-06 survey
Island Lake is a 527-acre lake in northern Pine County located three miles south of Moose Lake and is within the Kettle River Watershed. It has a maximum depth of 42 feet and 51 percent of the lake is 15 feet or less (267 acres). Island Lake has three small unnamed inlets with intermittent flows, one of which connects…
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 (0356)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: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.055 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (27 observations).
Estimated open water season: 225 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-25 (2012) | 2014-05-06 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-14 (2014) | 2015-12-18 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-09
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 MN58-0062-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Pine County
Frequently asked questions about Island Lake
What is the water quality grade for Island Lake?
- Island Lake in Pine County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 526.7 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. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Island Lake?
- Island Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2016). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Island Lake?
- Island Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 526.7 acres.
What fish are in Island Lake?
- Fish species found in Island Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Island Lake is located in Pine County, Minnesota.
When does Island Lake thaw?
- Island Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 225 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 high (105,682 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 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Island Lake, Sturgeon Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Island Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
147 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA147 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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