Louise Lake
Louise Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 214.46 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 33 ft
- Area
- 214 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 238 days
Next lake in Douglas County
Louise Lake is a 214-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet (18-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Louise Lake ranks #23 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-14. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Louise Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Louise Lake in Douglas 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
Louise Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 69°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 87 field readings (2021–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Louise Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33 ft |
| Average Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 214 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake LouisePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Louise 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
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 28.69 | 0.17 lb |
| BKS | 28.18 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 24.51 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.69 | 0.57 lb |
| BNS | 10.71 | — |
| BKF | 7.80 | — |
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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2023-06-20 survey
Lake Louise is a small (215 acres), moderately developed basin located northwest of Alexandria in Douglas County. Water quality and clarity are good and the lake supports an abundant and diverse aquatic plant community. Habitat attributes are characteristic of a bass-panfish lake. Lake Louise is connected to Lake…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Louise Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LouiseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Louise (1068)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LouiseFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LouisePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.272 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.69 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.15 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (64 observations).
Estimated open water season: 238 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-20 (2012) | 2013-05-10 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-05 (2006) | 2023-12-29 (2023) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-08
EPA Impairment Status
Louise 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 MN21-0094-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #23 of 37 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Louise Lake
What is the water quality grade for Louise Lake?
- Louise Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 214.46 acres.
Is Louise Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Louise Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Louise Lake?
- Louise Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 87 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Louise Lake?
- Louise Lake has a maximum depth of 33 feet and an average depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 214.46 acres.
What fish are in Louise Lake?
- Fish species found in Louise Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Louise Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
When does Louise Lake thaw?
- Louise Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Dec 9. The open water season is approximately 238 days.
Are there boat ramps on Louise Lake?
- Louise Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Louise. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Louise Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Alexandria Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Louise Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA21 samples · 2021–2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate