Pioneer Lake
Chisago County, Minnesota77 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Pioneer Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 8 ft max depth
- Public access
Pioneer Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 82 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 47.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 77.31 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 30, 2001 caught 0.33 bluegill per trap net at Pioneer Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–7 inches. DNR survey details →
Pioneer Lake is a 77-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including black bullhead, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. Public access is available. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Chisago County, Pioneer Lake ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Pioneer Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 9
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Pioneer Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Pioneer 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 Pioneer Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Pioneer Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 82 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 47.8 µg/L. TSI 68.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 82µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 47.8µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 68 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Pioneer Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Pioneer Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Sep (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (64°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 40 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pioneer Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 30, 2001 caught 0.33 bluegill per trap net at Pioneer Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–7 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pioneer Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2001-07-30 (Standard Survey).
1 survey on file · most recent 2001-07-30 (Standard Survey)
25 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 4.22 | 7–11 in 2001-07-30 | 0.43 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 0.56 | 8–9 in 2001-07-30 | 0.33 lb |
| Bluegill | 0.33 | 6–7 in 2001-07-30 | 0.26 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.22 | 6 in 2001-07-30 | 0.22 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Bullhead
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
From the 2001-07-30 survey
A lake survey was conducted on Pioneer Lake to obtain initial information on the lakes physical and biologic character. Nine trapnets were set in Pioneer Lake on July 30, 2001 to assess the current fish population. The net catch was sparse overall. The catch consisted of 38 black bullheads, 5 yellow bullheads, 3…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pioneer Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PioneerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
8 ft
Surface area
77 acres
Shoreline
2.1 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
20 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
896 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Pioneer Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pioneer Lake in Chisago 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Pioneer Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pioneer 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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pioneer 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-7.87 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-6.9 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 9
Earliest Mar 15, 2016 · Latest Apr 29, 2018
Typical ice-in
Nov 27
Earliest Nov 10, 2018 · Latest Dec 19, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Apr 15
2023
15 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Pioneer Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN13-0034-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about Pioneer Lake
Where is Pioneer Lake?
- Pioneer Lake is a lake in Chisago County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Pioneer Lake?
- Pioneer Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 82 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 47.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 77.31 acres.
Is Pioneer Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Pioneer Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Pioneer Lake?
- Pioneer Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September, from 40 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pioneer Lake?
- Pioneer Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 77.31 acres.
What fish are in Pioneer Lake?
- Fish species found in Pioneer Lake include black bullhead, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead. Pioneer Lake is located in Chisago County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pioneer Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 30, 2001 caught 0.33 bluegill per trap net at Pioneer Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–7 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pioneer Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Pioneer Lake thaw?
- Pioneer Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 9. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 232 days.
Can I fish at Pioneer Lake?
- Public access to Pioneer Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Pioneer Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
93 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
MNPCA93 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate