Missouri Lake
Missouri Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Surface area: 24.25 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.1 ft
- Area
- 24 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cook County
Why Missouri 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 Missouri Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Missouri Lake is a 24-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including northern pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-07-28. 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 Missouri Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.8 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Missouri Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Missouri Lake in Cook 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 Missouri Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 0.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
The available depth estimate for Missouri Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Recreation & Access
- White Pine LakePublic
- Christine LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Missouri Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-06-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 7.25 | 1.96 lb |
| White Sucker | 6.83 | 0.93 lb |
| Brook Trout | 1.25 | 0.44 lb |
| NRD | 0.12 | — |
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.
Northern Pike
White Sucker
Brook Trout
From the 2017-06-08 survey
Missouri Lake is a small, very shallow water connected to the Poplar River (a desginated trout stream) by its outlet, Missouri Creek. As late as 1995 it supported a small number of naturally-produced Brook Trout, and fairly high numbers of White Sucker. By 1999 Northern Pike had become established in the lake. Since…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Missouri Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MissouriFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Missouri 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 MN16-0453-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.25 km)
Graded lakes near Missouri Lake
Missouri Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Missouri Lake
What is the water quality grade for Missouri Lake?
- Missouri Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Surface area: 24.25 acres.
Is Missouri Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Missouri Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Missouri Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Missouri Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 24.25 acres.
What fish are in Missouri Lake?
- Fish species found in Missouri Lake include northern pike. Missouri Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Missouri Lake?
- Missouri Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include White Pine Lake, Christine Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory