Little Cut Foot Lake
Little Cut Foot Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 42 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 619.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 619 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Little Cut Foot Lake →
Next lake in Itasca County
Little Cut Foot Lake is a 619-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 20 feet (9-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Little Cut Foot Lake ranks #69 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-14. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 6.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 42 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 42 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Cut Foot Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Cut Foot 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Little Cut Foot Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Cut Foot Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Little Cut Foot Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 72 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Cut Foot Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Average Depth | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 619 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 86% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Cut Foot Sioux LakePublic
- MosomoPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Cut Foot Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-05-05 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BLH | 93.75 | 0.41 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 17.49 | 1.32 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 16.12 | 0.29 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.26 | 0.47 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 4.26 | 0.79 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.15 | 1.74 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.
Tullibee (Cisco)
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
From the 2025-05-05 survey
Black Crappie were collected as part of a broad research project investigating populations across Minnesota. Spring trap net surveys collected a total of 151 fish. Individuals averaged 10.4 inches with the largest individual being 13.4 inches. Growth was rapid and total length averaged 8.3 and 11.5 inches at age 3 and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Cut Foot Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little Cut Foot SiouxFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Cut Foot Sioux (0663)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little Cut Foot SiouxFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little Cut Foot SiouxPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.02 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -9 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #69 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Little Cut Foot Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Little Cut Foot Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Little Cut Foot Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 42 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 619.1 acres.
Is Little Cut Foot Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Little Cut Foot Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Little Cut Foot Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 72 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Little Cut Foot Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet and an average depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 619.1 acres.
What fish are in Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Cut Foot Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Cut Foot Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Little Cut Foot Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake, Mosomo. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Cut Foot Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX23 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory