Little Island Lake
Little Island Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 73.41 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 73 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Little Island 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 Island 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.
Little Island Lake is a 73-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-07-06. 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 Island Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.3 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Island Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Island 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 Little Island Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Little Island Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 65°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 40 field readings (2016–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Island Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Surface Area | 73 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 25% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Burnt Shanty LakePublic
Fishing Little Island Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1979-06-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 75.63 | 0.11 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 24.63 | 0.16 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 24.50 | 0.12 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 8.88 | 0.28 lb |
| Black Crappie | 8.00 | 0.32 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.00 | 1.92 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1979-06-25 survey
Perch, Bluegill, and Crappie populations are considerably higher than state and local medians. All other fish populations are within nrml limits for this type of lake.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Island 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 IslandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little IslandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Little Island 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 MN31-0422-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.44 km)
Graded lakes near Little Island Lake
Little Island Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Little Island Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Island Lake?
- Little Island Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 73.41 acres.
Is Little Island Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Island Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Island Lake?
- Little Island Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 40 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Island Lake?
- Little Island Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake covers 73.41 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Little Island Lake?
- Little Island Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Burnt Shanty 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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory