Mashkenode Lake
Mashkenode Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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.
- Clarity
- 4.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 128 acres
- 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 Mashkenode Lake →
Next lake in St. Louis County
Mashkenode Lake is a 128-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2021. 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 2 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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: 50.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 22.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 50.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 22.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Mashkenode Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Mashkenode Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Mashkenode Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 128 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Mashkenode LakePublic
- Mott PitPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mashkenode Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 18900.00 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 669.11 | 0.29 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 55.02 | 0.75 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 22.67 | 0.18 lb |
| White Sucker | 11.99 | 1.24 lb |
| CSH | 11.08 | 0.08 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.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.39 m/yr | 2 |
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #67 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Mashkenode Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mashkenode Lake?
- Mashkenode Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Mashkenode Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 22.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mashkenode Lake?
- Mashkenode Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, 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.
Are there boat ramps on Mashkenode Lake?
- Mashkenode Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mashkenode Lake, Mott Pit. Public access is listed as yes.
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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)
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
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