Moore Lake
Moore Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 41 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 67.81 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 5 ft
- Area
- 68 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Anoka County
Moore Lake is a 68-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 5 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, Moore Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 41 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 41 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Moore Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Moore Lake in Anoka 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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Water Temperature
Moore Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Jan (about 33°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 100 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Moore Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 68 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Moore Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1999-06-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 72.83 | 0.35 lb |
| Bluegill | 58.56 | 0.2 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 7.72 | 0.06 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 3.67 | 0.32 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.61 | 0.1 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.00 | 0.73 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
Bluegill
Hybrid Sunfish
Yellow Bass
From the 1999-06-15 survey
Bluegill are abundant in West Moore Lake, but are small. Lengths ranged from 3 to 8 inches, with an avergae of 4.5 inches, and only 15% over 6 inches. Northern pike are also abundant but small - lengths ranged from 12.5 to 19 inches. Other games species sampled in low numbers were largemouth bass, black crappie, and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Moore Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — West MooreFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — West MoorePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.049 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +18.04 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +7.75 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Moore 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 MN02-0075-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.16 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Moore Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Fridley-Locke Park Wtp #2Fridley · 0.5 mi away · NPDES MN0043664
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 #13 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes in Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about Moore Lake
What is the water quality grade for Moore Lake?
- Moore Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 41 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 67.81 acres.
Is Moore Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Moore Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Moore Lake?
- Moore Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 100 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Moore Lake?
- Moore Lake has a maximum depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 67.81 acres.
What fish are in Moore Lake?
- Fish species found in Moore Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Moore Lake is located in Anoka County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
29 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA29 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 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