Little Gabbro Lake
Little Gabbro Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 147.54 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in July
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 148 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lake County
Why Little Gabbro 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 Gabbro 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 Gabbro Lake is a 148-acre lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, northern pike, and rock bass. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-06-13. 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 Gabbro Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Gabbro Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Gabbro Lake in Lake 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 Gabbro Lake
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Water Temperature
Little Gabbro Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in Oct (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 29 field readings (2011–2011) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Gabbro Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 148 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 79% |
| 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 Little Gabbro Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-09-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 5.58 | 0.35 lb |
| Walleye | 3.50 | 0.8 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.00 | 0.17 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.92 | 1.43 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.83 | 2.03 lb |
| Rock Bass | 1.17 | 0.45 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)
Walleye
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
From the 2016-09-12 survey
Little Gabbro Lake is located approximately 11 miles SE of Ely within the BWCAW. The primary access is a 200 rod portage from a parking area located off the Spruce Road. There are 3 designated campsites located on the lake and another one located in the narrows between Little Gabbro and Gabbro Lakes. Seven species of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Gabbro Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little GabbroFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little GabbroPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Little Gabbro Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Gabbro Lake 2 (completed 1924), built primarily for recreation on the Isabella River; rockfill-type dam, 7 ft tall and 305 ft long.
- Surface area
- 154 ac
- Normal storage
- 10,300 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 10,300 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- USDA FS
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00647 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.64 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Little Gabbro 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 MN38-0701-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.28 km)
Graded lakes near Little Gabbro Lake
Little Gabbro Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Little Gabbro Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Gabbro Lake?
- Little Gabbro Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 147.54 acres.
Is Little Gabbro Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Gabbro 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 Little Gabbro Lake?
- Little Gabbro Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in July, from 29 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2011). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Gabbro Lake?
- Little Gabbro Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 147.54 acres.
What fish are in Little Gabbro Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Gabbro Lake include black crappie, northern pike, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Little Gabbro Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2021
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