Miner'S Pit West Lake
Miner'S Pit West Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 23.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 4.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 140 ft. Surface area: 141.17 acres.
- Clarity
- 23.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 49°F
- Max depth
- 140 ft
- Area
- 141 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Miner'S Pit West 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 Miner'S Pit West 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, 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.
Miner'S Pit West Lake is a 141-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 140 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including bluegill, brown trout, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-30. 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 Miner'S Pit West Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 23.1 ft down. Phosphorus level: 4.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 30.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 23.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 4.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.1 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 30 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Miner'S Pit West Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Miner'S Pit West 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Miner'S Pit West Lake
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Water Temperature
Miner'S Pit West Lake typically sits around 49°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 49°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 49°F) and coldest in Jul (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 126 field readings (2023–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Miner'S Pit West Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 140 ft |
| Surface Area | 141 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 18% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sandy PointPublic
- Shagawa Lake (Southeast)Public
- Pioneer Mine PitPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Miner'S Pit West Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.862 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Miner'S Pit West Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0069-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.47 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Miner'S Pit West Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Winton WwtfWinton · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MN0056715
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.
Graded lakes near Miner'S Pit West Lake
Miner'S Pit West Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Miner'S Pit West Lake
What is the water quality grade for Miner'S Pit West Lake?
- Miner'S Pit West Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 23.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 4.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 140 ft. Surface area: 141.17 acres.
Is Miner'S Pit West Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Miner'S Pit West Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Miner'S Pit West Lake?
- Miner'S Pit West Lake typically sits around 49°F at the surface in August, from 126 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Miner'S Pit West Lake?
- Miner'S Pit West Lake has a maximum depth of 140 feet. The lake covers 141.17 acres.
What fish are in Miner'S Pit West Lake?
- Fish species found in Miner'S Pit West Lake include bluegill, brown trout, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, rock bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker. Miner'S Pit West Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Miner'S Pit West Lake?
- Miner'S Pit West Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sandy Point, Shagawa Lake (Southeast), Pioneer Mine Pit. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA12 samples · 2025
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