Mcavity Lake
Mcavity Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 147 acres.
- Clarity
- 17.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 147 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
- Open water
- 214 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Mcavity 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 Mcavity 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.
Mcavity Lake is a 147-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet (11-foot average). The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-01. 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 Mcavity Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 17.3 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Mcavity Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mcavity 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 Mcavity Lake
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Water Temperature
Mcavity Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mcavity Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Average Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 147 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 69% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- McAvity LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mcavity Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-06-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 11.42 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 8.55 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.38 | 1.25 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.93 | 2.53 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.74 | 0.17 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.63 | 0.17 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 Crappie
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2007-06-25 survey
McAvity Lake is a small, clear lake in south central Itasca County. A fisheries population assessment was conducted in June of 2007 to assess the status of the fish community. This assessment included night boat electrofishing to assess the largemouth bass population and test netting with gill and trap nets to assess…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mcavity Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — McAvityFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — McAvity (0869)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — McAvityPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.019 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (8 observations).
Estimated open water season: 214 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2004-04-18 (2004) | 2022-05-06 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-13 (2006) | 2023-11-28 (2023) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-06
Graded lakes near Mcavity Lake
Mcavity Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Mcavity Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mcavity Lake?
- Mcavity Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 147 acres.
Is Mcavity Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Mcavity 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 Mcavity Lake?
- Mcavity Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mcavity Lake?
- Mcavity Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet and an average depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 147 acres.
What fish are in Mcavity Lake?
- Fish species found in Mcavity Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow perch. Mcavity Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Mcavity Lake thaw?
- Mcavity Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 21. The open water season is approximately 214 days.
Are there boat ramps on Mcavity Lake?
- Mcavity Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include McAvity Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA22 samples · 2020–2025
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate