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B

North Lake

St. Louis County, MinnesotaLimited DataMesotrophic

North Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Minnesota lake of its size and depth.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at North Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. North Lake ranks 72 of 187 in St. Louis County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

North Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2023, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for North Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at North Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-07-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

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Swimming Safety

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels

Water Quality Grade: B, Good

Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)12 ftB
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)41Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #72 of 187 lakes in St. Louis County

Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County

EPA Impairment Status

North Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0473-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.47 km)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2023-07-02

Monitoring stations: 1