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LakeQuality

Peter Lake

NR
Not yet rated
22.5 ft clear · Oligotrophic · 282 acres
Limited DataOligotrophic

Peter Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 22.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 120 ft. Surface area: 281.98 acres.

Clarity
22.5 ft
Max depth
120 ft
Area
282 acres
Public access
No

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NRLittle Saganaga Lake7 ft clear · Cook CountyView →
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Why Peter 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 Peter Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.

Peter Lake is a 282-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 120 feet. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including burbot, lake trout, and white sucker. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-08-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Not rated

Limited data

Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake

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Water quality measurements for Peter Lake

These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.

Crystal clear, you can see 22.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 32.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)22.5 ftNot graded
PhosphorusNo recent samples
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No recent samples
Trophic State Index (TSI)32Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Where to stay near Peter Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Peter Lake in Cook 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 Peter Lake

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Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth120 ft
Surface Area282 acres
Shoreline Length6.7 mi
Littoral Zone25%
Public AccessNo

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area
4 sq mi
Elevation
1,598 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing Peter Lake

DNR Fisheries Survey Summary

4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-06 (Targeted Survey).

Top Species by Catch Rate

SpeciesAvg CPUEAvg Weight
White Sucker11.351.72 lb
Lake Trout10.861.08 lb
Yellow Perch1.030.13 lb
BUB0.740.58 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.

White Sucker

64 fish · 1019 in · 2018-09-19
116010111213141516171819

Lake Trout

85 fish · 618 in · 2018-09-19
211106789101112131415161718

Yellow Perch

1 fish · 66 in · 2018-09-19
106

BUB

6 fish · 1116 in · 2018-09-19
210111213141516

From the 2024-08-06 survey

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected in the deepest basin in Peter Lake on August 6, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. During the summer, Lake Trout…

Source: MN DNR LakeFinder Fisheries Lake Survey

DNR Reports & Resources

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Peter Lake. 1 report on file.

These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).

Nearby Lakes in Cook County

Frequently asked questions about Peter Lake

What is the water quality grade for Peter Lake?

Peter Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 22.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 120 ft. Surface area: 281.98 acres.

Is Peter Lake safe to swim in?

Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Peter Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

How deep is Peter Lake?

Peter Lake has a maximum depth of 120 feet. The lake covers 281.98 acres.

What fish are in Peter Lake?

Fish species found in Peter Lake include burbot, lake trout, white sucker, yellow perch. Peter Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.

Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota

Where this data comes from

1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface WaterMNPCA1 sample · 2020

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

Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)

Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder