Mashkenode Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota128 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Mashkenode Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 14 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Mashkenode Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 127.76 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 13, 2022 caught 6.00 walleye per gill net at Mashkenode Lake. DNR survey details →
Mashkenode Lake is a 128-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Mashkenode Lake ranks #67 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-08-15. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Mashkenode Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing10 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Mashkenode Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Mashkenode Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Mashkenode Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Mashkenode Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4.2 ft. Phosphorus 50.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 22.3 µg/L. TSI 59.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4.2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 50.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 22.3µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 59 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Mashkenode Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Mashkenode Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (53°F) to its warmest (72°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 22 field readings (2019–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mashkenode Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 13, 2022 caught 6.00 walleye per gill net at Mashkenode Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Mashkenode Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey).
6 surveys on file · most recent 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 18900.00 | ||
| Black Bullhead | 669.11 | 6–12 in 2022-06-13 | 0.29 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 55.02 | 11 in 2022-06-13 | 0.75 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 22.67 | 4–10 in 2022-06-13 | 0.18 lb |
| White Sucker | 11.99 | 12–20 in 2022-06-13 | 1.24 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
From the 2022-06-13 survey
Mashkenode Lake is located three miles southwest of the city of Virginia with its access via a concrete ramp off County Road 7. The lake covers 128 acres, has a maximum depth of 14 feet, and has brown-colored water. The lake's major inlet and outlet is the East Two River. On June 13, 2022 water temperatures ranged…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mashkenode Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MashkenodeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Mashkenode (1784)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MashkenodeFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MashkenodePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
14 ft
Surface area
128 acres
Shoreline
2.7 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
22 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,398 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Mashkenode LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Mashkenode Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mashkenode 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Mashkenode Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Mashkenode Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mashkenode Lake
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2020–2021). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving2 years
EPA Impairment Status
Mashkenode Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0725-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Mashkenode Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Us Steel Corp - Mn Ore Operations - Minntac Tailings BasinMountain Iron · 3 mi away · NPDES MN0057207MajorRecent violation
- Mountain Iron WwtpMountain Iron · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MN0040835Recent violation
- Nichols Wastewater PondsMountain Iron · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MN0071111
- Us Steel Corp-ReservoirMountain Iron · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MN0052493
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Mashkenode Lake
Where is Mashkenode Lake?
- Mashkenode Lake is a lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Mashkenode Lake?
- Mashkenode Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 127.76 acres.
Is Mashkenode Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Mashkenode Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Mashkenode Lake?
- Mashkenode Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September, from 22 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mashkenode Lake?
- Mashkenode Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 127.76 acres.
What fish are in Mashkenode Lake?
- Fish species found in Mashkenode Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Mashkenode Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Mashkenode Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 13, 2022 caught 6.00 walleye per gill net at Mashkenode Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Mashkenode Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Mashkenode Lake?
- Mashkenode Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mashkenode Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Mashkenode Lake?
- Mashkenode Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Mashkenode Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA21 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory