Nord Lake
Nord Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 418.16 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 418 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 14
- Open water
- 226 days
Next lake in Aitkin County
Why Nord 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 Nord 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.
Nord Lake is a 418-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-29. 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 Nord Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.1 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Nord Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Nord Lake in Aitkin 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 Nord Lake
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Water Temperature
Nord Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 69°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 76 field readings (2016–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Nord Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 418 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 65% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Nord LakePublic
- Hanson LakePublic
- Sissabagamah LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Nord Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-24 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| GOS | 56.78 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 30.49 | 1.21 lb |
| Bluegill | 30.29 | 0.16 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 26.32 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 17.17 | — |
| BNS | 12.57 | — |
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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2025-06-24 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Nord Lake was conducted on June 24, 2025, by Aitkin area fisheries staff. Sampling sites (N=10) were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Nord Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — NordFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Nord (0032)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — NordFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — NordPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (17 observations).
Estimated open water season: 226 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-06 (2015) | 2013-05-09 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-10 (2017) | 2004-12-10 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-11
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Nord Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- American Peat Technology LlcAitkin · 4.7 mi away · NPDES MN0057533Recent violation
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 Nord Lake
Nord Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Nord Lake
What is the water quality grade for Nord Lake?
- Nord Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 418.16 acres.
Is Nord Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Nord Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Nord Lake?
- Nord Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 76 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Nord Lake?
- Nord Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 418.16 acres.
What fish are in Nord Lake?
- Fish species found in Nord Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Nord Lake is located in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
When does Nord Lake thaw?
- Nord Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 226 days.
Are there boat ramps on Nord Lake?
- Nord Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Nord Lake, Hanson Lake, Sissabagamah Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Nord Lake across LakeGrade
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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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate