Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota · 49.02°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: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5.5 ft
- Mean depth
- ~35 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- 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. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. 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 #9 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 5.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | |
| Phosphorus | 27 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.3 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.975 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.55 µg/L/yr | 3 |
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 #9 of 10 lakes in Lake of the Woods County
Nearby Lakes in Lake of the Woods County
Explore Low Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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State Parks Near Low Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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
77 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Red Lake DNR
REDLAKE_WQX77 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 (1)
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: 1