Jackson Lake
Jackson Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Clearwater County
Jackson Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Clearwater County, Jackson Lake ranks #25 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-05. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Jackson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Jackson 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 Jackson Lake
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Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Jackson Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Jackson Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Jackson (1695)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — JacksonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Jackson Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Big Rice Lake WwslWhite Earth · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MN0068438Recent 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 #25 of 37 lakes in Clearwater County
Nearby Lakes in Clearwater County
Frequently asked questions about Jackson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Jackson Lake?
- Jackson Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L.
Is Jackson Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Jackson Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Jackson Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Jackson Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Explore Jackson Lake across LakeGrade
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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Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Jackson Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
34 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX34 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)