Itasca Lake
Itasca Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 1065.11 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.9 ft
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 1,065 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 23
- Open water
- 210 days
Next lake in Clearwater County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Itasca Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Itasca Lake is a 1,065-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 40 feet (17-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Clearwater County, Itasca Lake ranks #33 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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 7.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 14.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Itasca Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Itasca 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Itasca Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Average Depth | 17.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,065 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 14.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 42% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake ItascaPublic
- Bear PawPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Itasca Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-05 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | 90.12 | 20.58 lb |
| CNM | 38.30 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 32.05 | 0.13 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 17.55 | — |
| Bluegill | 11.54 | 0.28 lb |
| IOD | 9.66 | — |
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.
Muskellunge
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2025-08-05 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Itasca Lake on August 5th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Itasca Lake. 5 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ItascaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Itasca (1400)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Itasca (1401)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ItascaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ItascaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.135 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (245 observations).
Estimated open water season: 210 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-26 (2012) | 1950-05-18 (1950) |
| Ice-In | 1983-10-25 (1983) | 2016-12-09 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-20
EPA Impairment Status
Itasca 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 MN15-0016-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Itasca Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Mdnr Itasca State ParkPark Rapids · 2.1 mi away · NPDES MN0033758Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #33 of 37 lakes in Clearwater County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Itasca Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Clearwater County
Frequently asked questions about Itasca Lake
What is the water quality grade for Itasca Lake?
- Itasca Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 1065.11 acres.
Is Itasca Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Itasca Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 14.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Itasca Lake?
- Itasca Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet and an average depth of 17.3 feet. The lake covers 1065.11 acres.
What fish are in Itasca Lake?
- Fish species found in Itasca Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Itasca Lake is located in Clearwater County, Minnesota.
When does Itasca Lake thaw?
- Itasca Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23. Ice typically forms around Nov 19. The open water season is approximately 210 days.
Are there boat ramps on Itasca Lake?
- Itasca Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Itasca, Bear Paw. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Itasca Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Clearwater County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
250 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA250 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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