Mead Lake
Mead Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 81.42 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.7 ft
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 81 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Mead Lake is a 81-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Mead Lake ranks #44 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Mead Lake water quality
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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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Mead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mead 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 81 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 84% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mead Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-06-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 23.83 | 0.32 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 22.95 | 0.69 lb |
| Bluegill | 12.20 | 0.15 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 8.27 | 0.57 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.96 | 2.5 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.58 | 4.28 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.
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2007-06-25 survey
This is the first assessment that sampled northern pike. The northern pike population was relatively low and the gill net catch was at the low end of the expected range for lakes similar to Button Box. The average length of northern pike sampled was 29.2 inches with the longest being 37.5 inches. The average weight…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mead Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ButtonboxFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Buttonbox (0642)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ButtonboxPublic 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 | -0.005 m/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #44 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Mead Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mead Lake?
- Mead Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 81.42 acres.
Is Mead Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Mead Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Mead Lake?
- Mead Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 81.42 acres.
What fish are in Mead Lake?
- Fish species found in Mead Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, white sucker, yellow perch. Mead Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Explore Mead Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder