Norway Lake
Norway Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 514.89 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 515 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 19
Next lake in Cass County
Norway Lake is a 515-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Norway Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-06-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Norway Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Norway Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Norway Lake in Cass 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 Norway Lake
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 →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Norway Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (293,765 cells/mL) on May 11, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 515 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Norway LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Norway Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 27.42 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 13.12 | 0.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.78 | 1.55 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 8.75 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 5.88 | 0.58 lb |
| White Sucker | 3.22 | 2.47 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
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Pumpkinseed
From the 2021-06-24 survey
While there was a fair number of fish caught during the 2021 survey on Norway Lake, no species really stood out as a species to travel to the lake and target. Northern Pike numbers were the high at 20.8/gill net and average size was 20.4". While 28% fell within the 22-26" protected slot there were plenty below (60%)…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Norway Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — NorwayFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Norway (1507)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — NorwayPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.175 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.6 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (11 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-15 (2024) | 2022-05-05 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2003-12-06 (2003) | 2003-12-06 (2003) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-15
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Norway Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Norway Lake (completed 1909), built primarily for recreation on the Pine River; earth-type dam, 13 ft tall and 400 ft long.
- Surface area
- 500 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,740 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,720 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 149 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- City of Pine River
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00035 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Norway Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Pine River Area Sanitary DistrictPine River · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MN0046388Recent 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Norway Lake
What is the water quality grade for Norway Lake?
- Norway Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 514.89 acres.
Is Norway Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Norway Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Norway Lake?
- Norway Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 514.89 acres.
What fish are in Norway Lake?
- Fish species found in Norway Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, greater redhorse, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Norway Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
When does Norway Lake thaw?
- Norway Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19.
Does Norway Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Norway Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (293,765 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Norway Lake?
- Norway Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Norway Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Norway Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Brainerd Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Norway Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA21 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate