Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota · 48.89°N · Water Quality Report Card
Low Lake
Low Lake in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.4 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.2 ft
- Mean depth
- ~35 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 5
Low Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 35 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 9 other monitored lakes in Lake of the Woods County, Low Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.2 ft | |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~35 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Low Lake.
Where to stay near Low Lake
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Fishing Low 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.
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1976-04-26 (1976) | 1996-05-19 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 1986-11-11 (1986) | 1988-11-17 (1988) |
Most recent ice-out: 1997-05-06
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 10 lakes in Lake of the Woods County
Nearby Lakes in Lake of the Woods County
Explore Low Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Where this data comes from
103 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Red Lake DNR
REDLAKE_WQX103 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds come from the U.S. EPA National Lakes Assessment 2022 Technical Support Document (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-10-24
Monitoring stations: 2