Lower Pauness Lake
Lower Pauness Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 171.13 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.7 ft
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 171 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Lower Pauness 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 Pauness Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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 Pauness Lake is a 171-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 36 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including burbot, northern pike, and rock bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 Pauness Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5.7 ft. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lower Pauness Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Pauness 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Pauness Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Surface Area | 171 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 66% |
| 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 Lower Pauness Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 6.25 | 2.05 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.83 | 0.22 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.75 | 1.27 lb |
| Walleye | 1.17 | 0.65 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 0.83 | 1.52 lb |
| BUB | 0.42 | 0.94 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.
White Sucker
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Walleye
From the 2025-06-23 survey
Lower Pauness Lake is a 156-acre, class-10 lake located in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in northern St. Louis County located approximately 12 miles east-southeast of Crane Lake, Minnesota. Lower Pauness Lake consists of two basins (north and south) joined by a shallow riverine section. The south…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lower Pauness 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 PaunessFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.357 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Pauness 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 MN69-0464-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Lower Pauness Lake
Lower Pauness Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Pauness Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lower Pauness Lake?
- Lower Pauness Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 171.13 acres.
Is Lower Pauness Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lower Pauness Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lower Pauness Lake?
- Lower Pauness Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake covers 171.13 acres.
What fish are in Lower Pauness Lake?
- Fish species found in Lower Pauness Lake include burbot, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Lower Pauness Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA2 samples · 2021–2024
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder