Kabetogama Lake
Kabetogama Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.4 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 80 ft. Surface area: 24034 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.4 ft
- Max depth
- 80 ft
- Area
- 24,034 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 29
- Open water
- 215 days
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Kabetogama 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 Kabetogama 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.
Kabetogama Lake is a 24,034-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 80 feet (30-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and burbot. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-20. 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 Kabetogama Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 4.4 ft. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Kabetogama Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kabetogama Lake in St. Louis 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 Kabetogama Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Kabetogama Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Kabetogama Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (111,686 cells/mL) on October 25, 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 | 80 ft |
| Average Depth | 29.9 ft |
| Surface Area | 24,034 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 190.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 31% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kabetogama Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
32 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 25.23 | 0.96 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 12.43 | 0.31 lb |
| EMS | 8.88 | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | 8.47 | 1.12 lb |
| TRP | 4.52 | 0.02 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.12 | 1.92 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.
Walleye
Yellow Perch
EMS
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2025-06-11 survey
Lake Kabetogama is part of the statewide Large Lake Program, an intensive fisheries management program on the 10 largest Walleye lakes in Minnesota. The Large Lake Program includes annual fish population assessments, annual water quality monitoring, and regularly scheduled creel surveys. A variety of sampling gear is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Kabetogama Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — KabetogamaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — KabetogamaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.46 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (89 observations).
Estimated open water season: 215 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-04-01 (2012) | 1996-05-18 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 1978-11-21 (1978) | 1981-12-09 (1981) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-14
EPA Impairment Status
Kabetogama 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 MN69-0843-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.95 km)
Graded lakes near Kabetogama Lake
Kabetogama Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Kabetogama Lake
What is the water quality grade for Kabetogama Lake?
- Kabetogama Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.4 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 80 ft. Surface area: 24034 acres.
Is Kabetogama Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Kabetogama Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Kabetogama Lake?
- Kabetogama Lake has a maximum depth of 80 feet and an average depth of 29.9 feet. The lake covers 24034 acres.
What fish are in Kabetogama Lake?
- Fish species found in Kabetogama Lake include black crappie, bluegill, burbot, cisco species, lake sturgeon, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, redhorse, rock bass, sauger, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Kabetogama Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
When does Kabetogama Lake thaw?
- Kabetogama Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 29. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 215 days.
Does Kabetogama Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Kabetogama Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (111,686 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Kabetogama Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
26 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS Minnesota Water Science Center
USGS-MN26 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk method
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate