Leora Lake
Leora Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 41 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 262.76 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 263 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
- Open water
- 212 days
Next lake in St. Louis County
Leora Lake is a 263-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Leora Lake ranks #56 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-20. 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 41 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 41 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Leora Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Leora 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Surface Area | 263 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 42% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Leora Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 46.02 | — |
| Bluegill | 13.88 | 0.19 lb |
| BNS | 13.17 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.55 | 1.11 lb |
| IOD | 3.74 | — |
| Black Crappie | 3.37 | 0.36 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2021-08-09 survey
Leora Lake is a 263-acre lake with 110 (42%) littoral acres and a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake is located east of Highway 53, near Cotton, MN. Leora Lake has a concrete, back in public access on the south side of the lake directly off of CR #49. Primary management species are Walleye and Largemouth Bass. Walleye…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Leora Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LeoraFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Leora (1818)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LeoraFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LeoraPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.315 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.91 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.29 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (7 observations).
Estimated open water season: 212 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-12 (2005) | 2020-04-24 (2020) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2004-12-05 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-24
EPA Impairment Status
Leora 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 MN69-0521-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #56 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Leora Lake
What is the water quality grade for Leora Lake?
- Leora Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 41 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 262.76 acres.
Is Leora Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Leora Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Leora Lake?
- Leora Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake covers 262.76 acres.
What fish are in Leora Lake?
- Fish species found in Leora Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Leora Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
When does Leora Lake thaw?
- Leora Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 19. The open water season is approximately 212 days.
Explore Leora Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
41 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA41 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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