Lily Lake
Lily Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 109.11 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Max depth
- 45 ft
- Area
- 109 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Lily 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 Lily Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, 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.
Lily Lake is a 109-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 45 feet. 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 with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-27. 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 Lily Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.7 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lily Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lily Lake in Itasca 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 Lily Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 45 ft |
| Surface Area | 109 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 44% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Little Moose LakePublic
- Thistledew LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lily Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-25 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 34.80 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 18.01 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.54 | 0.65 lb |
| GOS | 7.98 | 0.07 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.72 | 2.24 lb |
| Rock Bass | 5.69 | 0.29 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
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
GOS
From the 2022-07-25 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Mirror Lake was conducted on July 25th, 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 Lily Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MirrorFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Mirror (0641)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MirrorPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.057 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.07 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.26 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lily 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 MN31-0158-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.02 km)
Graded lakes near Lily Lake
Lily Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Lily Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lily Lake?
- Lily Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 109.11 acres.
Is Lily Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lily Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lily Lake?
- Lily Lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake covers 109.11 acres.
What fish are in Lily Lake?
- Fish species found in Lily Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch. Lily Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Lily Lake?
- Lily Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Moose Lake, Thistledew Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory