Lower Lawrence Lake
Lower Lawrence Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 151.67 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 152 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Lower Lawrence 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 Lower Lawrence Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not 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.
Lower Lawrence Lake is a 152-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. 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 2024-07-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lower Lawrence Lake water quality
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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 Lower Lawrence Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lower Lawrence Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Lawrence 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 Lower Lawrence Lake
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Water Temperature
Lower Lawrence Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 76°F) and coldest in Sep (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2022–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Lawrence Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 152 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 83% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Lawerence LakePublic
Fishing Lower Lawrence Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1974-07-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 10.33 | 0.32 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.67 | 0.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.67 | 1.63 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.00 | 1.38 lb |
| Walleye | 1.00 | 0.5 lb |
| Shorthead Redhorse | 0.33 | 0.6 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1974-07-25 survey
The fish population has changed little since the 1974 lake survey. N Pike abundance is above our local catch median. Abundance of other fishes is within normal limits for this type of lake.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lower Lawrence Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Lower LawrenceFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.184 m/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Lawrence 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 MN31-0231-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.87 km)
Graded lakes near Lower Lawrence Lake
Lower Lawrence Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Lawrence Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lower Lawrence Lake?
- Lower Lawrence Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 151.67 acres.
Is Lower Lawrence Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lower Lawrence Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lower Lawrence Lake?
- Lower Lawrence Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Lawrence Lake?
- Lower Lawrence Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 151.67 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Lower Lawrence Lake?
- Lower Lawrence Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lawerence Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
65 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA65 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory