Norway Lake
Cass County, Minnesota515 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Norway Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 12 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Norway Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 24, 2021 caught 20.75 northern pike per gill net at Norway Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–29 inches. DNR survey details →
Norway Lake is a 515-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Norway Lake covers about 510 acres in Cass County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 19, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Norway Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Norway Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing14 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 19
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Norway 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 Norway Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Norway Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.1 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 21µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.1µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 48 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Norway Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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 ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 24, 2021 caught 20.75 northern pike per gill net at Norway Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–29 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Norway Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-24 (Standard Survey).
5 surveys on file · most recent 2021-06-24 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 27.42 | 3–7 in 2021-06-24 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 13.12 | 5–10 in 2021-06-24 | 0.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.78 | 10–29 in 2021-06-24 | 1.55 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 8.75 | 3–6 in 2021-06-24 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 5.88 | 5–13 in 2021-06-24 | 0.58 lb |
| White Sucker | 3.22 | 12–21 in 2021-06-24 | 2.47 lb |
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
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
Lake Details
Max depth
12 ft
Surface area
515 acres
Shoreline
4.1 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
167 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,276 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Norway 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 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
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 Norway Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Norway Lake
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2023–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving3 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+3.5 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.6 µg/L/yr3 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 19
Earliest Mar 15, 2024 · Latest May 5, 2022
Most recent ice-out
Mar 15
2024
11 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Norway Lake
Where is Norway Lake?
- Norway Lake is a lake in Cass County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Norway Lake?
- Norway Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Norway Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 24, 2021 caught 20.75 northern pike per gill net at Norway Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–29 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Norway Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Norway Lake?
- Norway 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 Norway Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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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)
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
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