Locator Lake
Locator Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 132.86 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 59°F
- Max depth
- 52 ft
- Area
- 133 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Next lake in St. Louis County
Locator Lake is a 133-acre mesotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 52 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including cisco species, largemouth bass, and northern pike. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Locator Lake ranks #40 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-19. 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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Locator Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Locator 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.
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Water Temperature
Locator Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 57°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 59°F) and coldest in Jun (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 572 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Locator Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 52 ft |
| Surface Area | 133 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 33% |
| 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 Locator Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CIS | 5.67 | 0.09 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.00 | — |
| Northern Pike | 3.73 | 2.73 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 3.25 | 0.08 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.96 | 1.16 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.03 | 0.21 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.
CIS
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2023-07-17 survey
Locator Lake is a 133 acre lake with good water clarity and a maximum depth of 52 feet. Locator Lake is located approximately 16 miles ESE of International Falls on the Kabetogama peninsula in Voyageurs National Park. Access is limited to portage trails from Kabetogama or Rainy Lakes. Locator Lake can also be accessed…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Locator Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LocatorFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.125 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.72 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Locator 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 MN69-0936-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #40 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Locator Lake
What is the water quality grade for Locator Lake?
- Locator Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 132.86 acres.
Is Locator Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Locator Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Locator Lake?
- Locator Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August, from 572 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Locator Lake?
- Locator Lake has a maximum depth of 52 feet. The lake covers 132.86 acres.
What fish are in Locator Lake?
- Fish species found in Locator Lake include cisco species, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, yellow perch. Locator Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- National Park Service Water Resources Division
11NPSWRD_WQX20 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Secchi Disk
- Alkaline Persulfate Digestion for Total N and P in Water
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