North Center Lake
North Center Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 749.26 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Max depth
- 46 ft
- Area
- 749 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near North Center Lake →
Next lake in Chisago County
North Center Lake is a 749-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 46 feet (7-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Chisago County, North Center Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near North Center Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Center Lake in Chisago 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around North Center Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near North Center Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 46 ft |
| Average Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 749 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 81% |
| 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 North Center Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-21 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 91.51 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 22.31 | 0.18 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 15.98 | 0.96 lb |
| CNM | 15.00 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 13.41 | — |
| IOD | 8.62 | — |
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.
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-07-21 survey
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community was conducted by Hinckley fisheries staff on North Center Lake on July 21, 2025. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish: Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Central Mudminnow, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for North Center Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — North Center LakeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — North Center LakeFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — North Center LakePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.001 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.07 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -8.75 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
North Center Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN13-0032-01 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #20 of 30 lakes in Chisago County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
North Center Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about North Center Lake
What is the water quality grade for North Center Lake?
- North Center Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 749.26 acres.
Is North Center Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. North Center Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 18 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is North Center Lake?
- North Center Lake has a maximum depth of 46 feet and an average depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 749.26 acres.
What fish are in North Center Lake?
- Fish species found in North Center Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. North Center Lake is located in Chisago County, Minnesota.
Explore North Center Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
227 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA226 samples · 2020–2025 - Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Monitoring
MNDA_PESTICIDE1 sample · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder