North Lindstrom Lake
North Lindstrom Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 141.85 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 142 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 2
Next lake in Chisago County
North Lindstrom Lake is a 142-acre mesotrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Chisago County, North Lindstrom Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near North Lindstrom Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Lindstrom 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.
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Water Temperature
North Lindstrom Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 44 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North Lindstrom Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 142 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 39% |
| Public Access | No |
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 Lindstrom 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
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-07-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 43.43 | 0.13 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 42.55 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 41.55 | 0.48 lb |
| SFS | 14.68 | — |
| Black Crappie | 10.57 | 0.2 lb |
| BKF | 9.36 | — |
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
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2019-07-15 survey
North Lindstrom Lake is a fertile 137 acre basin located in southern Chisago County within the city of Lindstrom. The lake's south shore is connected to South Lindstrom Lake by a narrow channel, navigable at normal water levels. North Center Lake connects to the north east end of the lake by a 3/4 mile stream. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for North Lindstrom Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — North LindstromFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.113 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.31 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.89 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (3 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-01 (2015) | 2022-04-20 (2022) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-04-02
EPA Impairment Status
North Lindstrom Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN13-0035-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 30 lakes in Chisago County
Nearby Lakes in Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about North Lindstrom Lake
What is the water quality grade for North Lindstrom Lake?
- North Lindstrom Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 141.85 acres.
Is North Lindstrom Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. North Lindstrom Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of North Lindstrom Lake?
- North Lindstrom Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 44 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is North Lindstrom Lake?
- North Lindstrom Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 141.85 acres.
What fish are in North Lindstrom Lake?
- Fish species found in North Lindstrom Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. North Lindstrom Lake is located in Chisago County, Minnesota.
When does North Lindstrom Lake thaw?
- North Lindstrom Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 2.
Explore North Lindstrom Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
88 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA88 samples · 2020–2025
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 (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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate