Kettle Lake
Kettle Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 29 µg/L.
- Mean depth
- ~7 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Carlton County
Kettle Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Carlton County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 7 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 21 other monitored lakes in Carlton County, Kettle Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-08. 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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 29 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 29 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Kettle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kettle Lake in Carlton 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 Kettle Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~7 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Kettle Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Kettle LakePublic
Fishing Kettle Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Kettle Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Kettle (0254)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — KettlePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 22 lakes in Carlton County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Kettle Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Carlton County
Frequently asked questions about Kettle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Kettle Lake?
- Kettle Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 29 µg/L.
Is Kettle Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Kettle Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Kettle Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Kettle Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 7 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Kettle Lake?
- Kettle Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Kettle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA7 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory