Lake Mitchell
Lake Mitchell in Sherburne County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 169.5 acres.
Minnesota DNR surveys at Lake Mitchell average 17.09 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 19, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Max depth
- 33 ft
- Area
- 170 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 6
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Why Lake Mitchell has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: 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 Lake Mitchell, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Lake Mitchell is a 170-acre lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet (14-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-07-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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 Lake Mitchell
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lake Mitchell
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Mitchell in Sherburne 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 Lake Mitchell
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Minnesota DNR surveys at Lake Mitchell average 17.09 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 19, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Lake Mitchell — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-19 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 26.90 | — |
| Bluegill | 23.92 | 0.11 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 17.09 | 0.98 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 12.77 | 0.1 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 9.40 | 0.23 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
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
Largemouth Bass
Green Sunfish
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2019-06-19 survey
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community was conducted on June 19, 2019 by Fisheries Lake IBI program staff. Sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lake Mitchell. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MitchellFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MitchellFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33 ft |
| Average Depth | 13.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 170 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 63% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Mitchell
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.05 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (25 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2006-12-06 (2006) | 2006-12-09 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-03
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Mitchell is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN71-0081-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Lake Mitchell
Lake Mitchell has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Sherburne County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Mitchell
Where is Lake Mitchell?
- Lake Mitchell is a lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Mitchell?
- Lake Mitchell in Sherburne County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 169.5 acres.
Is Lake Mitchell safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake Mitchell 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 Lake Mitchell?
- Lake Mitchell has a maximum depth of 33 feet and an average depth of 13.8 feet. The lake covers 169.5 acres.
What fish are in Lake Mitchell?
- Fish species found in Lake Mitchell include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lake Mitchell is located in Sherburne County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Mitchell?
- Minnesota DNR surveys at Lake Mitchell average 17.09 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 19, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Lake Mitchell — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Lake Mitchell thaw?
- Lake Mitchell typically has ice-out around Apr 6.
Explore Lake Mitchell across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS2 samples · 2022–2023
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