North Twin Lake
North Twin Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 238.76 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 239 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Why North Twin 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 North Twin Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not 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.
North Twin Lake is a 239-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. 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 North Twin Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near North Twin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Twin Lake in Itasca 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 North Twin Lake
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Water Temperature
North Twin Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 69°F) and coldest in Jun (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 48 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North Twin Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 239 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 31% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Panasa LakePublic
- Upper Panasa LakePublic
- Twin LakesPublic
Fishing North Twin 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
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2008-08-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 9.96 | 0.16 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.20 | 0.84 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.91 | 0.24 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 5.19 | 0.69 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.42 | 2.02 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 1.74 | 0.82 lb |
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
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2008-08-11 survey
North Twin Lake is a small, relatively clear lake in central Itasca County near Marble, Minnesota. The lakeshore has moderate levels of municipal and residential development. North Twin supports a relatively diverse aquatic plant community. Unfortunately, three exotic, invasive plants are present. Exotic aquatic…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for North Twin Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — North TwinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — North Twin (0586)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — North Twin (2074)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — North TwinPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.031 m/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
North Twin 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 MN31-0190-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of North Twin Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Marble WwtpMarble · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MN0020214Recent 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 North Twin Lake
North Twin Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about North Twin Lake
What is the water quality grade for North Twin Lake?
- North Twin Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 238.76 acres.
Is North Twin Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. North Twin Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of North Twin Lake?
- North Twin Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 48 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is North Twin Lake?
- North Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 238.76 acres.
Are there boat ramps on North Twin Lake?
- North Twin Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Panasa Lake, Upper Panasa Lake, Twin Lakes. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore North Twin Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
68 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
MNPCA68 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
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