Phoebe Lake
Phoebe Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 610.01 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 610 acres
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Cook County
Why Phoebe 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 Phoebe 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.
Phoebe Lake is a 610-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet (10-foot average). The lake supports 7 documented fish species including green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, and northern pike. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-07-24. 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 Phoebe Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Phoebe Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Phoebe 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 Phoebe Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Average Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 610 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 15.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 64% |
| 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 Phoebe Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-06-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BNS | 12.00 | — |
| White Sucker | 10.86 | 2.07 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 7.00 | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | 2.98 | 0.73 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.54 | 2.27 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.46 | 0.1 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
Smallmouth Bass
Northern Pike
Yellow Perch
From the 2018-06-18 survey
Phoebe Lake is located 20 miles north of Schroeder in the BWCAW. The lake is part of the "Girl Chain" and has two accesses, a portage trail from Grace Lake on the NE end of the lake, and a canoe route from Knight Lake on the NW end. Entry points would be either Sawbill or Kawishiwi Lakes. Getting to the lake, like…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Phoebe Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PhoebeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Phoebe 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 MN16-0808-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Phoebe Lake
What is the water quality grade for Phoebe Lake?
- Phoebe Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 610.01 acres.
Is Phoebe Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Phoebe 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 Phoebe Lake?
- Phoebe Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet and an average depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 610.01 acres.
What fish are in Phoebe Lake?
- Fish species found in Phoebe Lake include green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Phoebe Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
Explore Phoebe Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2022
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder