Little Armstrong Lake
Little Armstrong Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 69.68 acres.
- Clarity
- 15.5 ft
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 70 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Little Armstrong 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 Little Armstrong Lake, 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.
Little Armstrong Lake is a 70-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-08-25. 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 Little Armstrong Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 15.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Little Armstrong Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Armstrong 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Armstrong Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 70 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 66% |
| Public Access | No |
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 Little Armstrong Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-07-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 5.23 | 0.8 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.47 | 0.13 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1.05 | 0.82 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.
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2018-07-09 survey
Little Armstrong (Camp) Lake is located approximately 10 miles SW of Ely in the Superior National Forest. This small lake has good water clarity and aquatic vegetation can be commonly found in its waters. The surrounding landscape is covered with a canopy of mixed deciduous and coniferous tree species. Public access…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Armstrong Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little ArmstrongFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.05 m/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Little Armstrong 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 MN69-0218-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.51 km)
Graded lakes near Little Armstrong Lake
Little Armstrong Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Little Armstrong Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Armstrong Lake?
- Little Armstrong Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 69.68 acres.
Is Little Armstrong Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Armstrong Lake 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 Little Armstrong Lake?
- Little Armstrong Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 69.68 acres.
What fish are in Little Armstrong Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Armstrong Lake include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass. Little Armstrong Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA2 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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