North Center Lake
Chisago County, Minnesota749 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for North Center Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 46 ft max depth
- Public access
North Center Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 749.26 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 21, 2025 caught 28.58 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at North Center Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 inches. DNR survey details →
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). 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 with 1 public boat landing. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
North Center Lake covers about 750 acres in Chisago County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near North Center Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What North Center Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Deep water46 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Center Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether North Center Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for North Center Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for North Center Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 18 µg/L. TSI 59.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 40µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 18µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 59 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about North Center Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 21, 2025 caught 28.58 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at North Center Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Center Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-21 (Targeted Survey).
14 surveys on file · most recent 2025-07-21 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 91.51 | 3–7 in 2021-06-14 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 22.31 | 4–9 in 2021-06-14 | 0.18 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 15.98 | 5–18 in 2021-06-14 | 0.96 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 13.41 |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
46 ft
Average depth
7 ft
Surface area
749 acres
Shoreline
12.1 mi
Littoral zone
81%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
49 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
883 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- North Center LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around North Center Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near North Center Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow North Center Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing North Center Lake
- → North Center Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → North Center Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → North Center Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from North Center Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-5.07 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-8.75 µg/L/yr6 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN13-0032-01 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about North Center Lake
Where is North Center Lake?
- North Center Lake is a lake in Chisago County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of North Center Lake?
- North Center Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Center Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North Center Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 21, 2025 caught 28.58 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at North Center Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Center Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on North Center Lake?
- North Center Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Center Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at North Center Lake?
- North Center Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore North Center Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Chisago County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near North Center Lake
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Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare North Center Lake With Nearby Lakes
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory