Lower Pigeon Lake
Lower Pigeon Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27.6 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Mean depth
- ~15 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lower Pigeon Lake →
Next lake in Itasca County
Lower Pigeon Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 15 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Lower Pigeon Lake ranks #66 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 27.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 38 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 27.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lower Pigeon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Pigeon 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lower Pigeon Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Pigeon Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lower Pigeon Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in Oct (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 438 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Pigeon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~15 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Lower Pigeon Lake.
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.
Recreation & Access
- Pigeon Dam LakePublic
- Lower Pigeon LakePublic
Fishing Lower Pigeon Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lower Pigeon Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lower Pigeon (0833)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lower PigeonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.098 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.71 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #66 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lower Pigeon Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Pigeon Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lower Pigeon Lake?
- Lower Pigeon Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27.6 µg/L.
Is Lower Pigeon Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Lower Pigeon Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 27.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lower Pigeon Lake?
- Lower Pigeon Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 438 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Pigeon Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lower Pigeon Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 15 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Lower Pigeon Lake?
- Lower Pigeon Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pigeon Dam Lake, Lower Pigeon Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
104 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX104 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory