Lewis Lake
Lewis Lake in Kanabec County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 178.99 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- Area
- 179 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 8
- Open water
- 240 days
Next lake in Kanabec County
Why Lewis 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 Lewis 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.
Lewis Lake is a 179-acre lake in Kanabec County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 48 feet. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-30. 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 Lewis Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lewis Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lewis Lake in Kanabec 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 Lewis Lake
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Water Temperature
Lewis Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 63°F) and coldest in Sep (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 46 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lewis Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 179 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 83% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lewis LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lewis Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-18 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 14.81 | 0.13 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.65 | 0.94 lb |
| CNM | 6.99 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 5.74 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 3.63 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.98 | 2.76 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
Green Sunfish
Northern Pike
From the 2022-07-18 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Lewis Lake was conducted on July 18-20, 2022, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites 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…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lewis Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LewisFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lewis (0290)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LewisPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.022 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (29 observations).
Estimated open water season: 240 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-23 (2016) | 2022-11-28 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-15 (2014) | 2017-12-10 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-29
EPA Impairment Status
Lewis Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN33-0032-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Lewis Lake
Lewis Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kanabec County
Frequently asked questions about Lewis Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lewis Lake?
- Lewis Lake in Kanabec County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 178.99 acres.
Is Lewis Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lewis Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lewis Lake?
- Lewis Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, from 46 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lewis Lake?
- Lewis Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet. The lake covers 178.99 acres.
What fish are in Lewis Lake?
- Fish species found in Lewis Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lewis Lake is located in Kanabec County, Minnesota.
When does Lewis Lake thaw?
- Lewis Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 8. Ice typically forms around Dec 4. The open water season is approximately 240 days.
Are there boat ramps on Lewis Lake?
- Lewis Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lewis Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
147 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA147 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate