Pioneer Lake
Pioneer Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). 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.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 77 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 9
- Open water
- 232 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Pioneer Lake →
Next lake in Chisago County
Pioneer Lake is a 77-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 with 1 public boat landing. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 82 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 47.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 82 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 47.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Pioneer Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pioneer 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 →
Water Temperature
Pioneer Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 77 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- North Center LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2001-07-30 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 4.22 | 0.43 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 0.56 | 0.33 lb |
| Bluegill | 0.33 | 0.26 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.22 | 0.22 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Bass
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.006 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -7.87 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -6.9 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (15 observations).
Estimated open water season: 232 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-15 (2016) | 2018-04-29 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-10 (2018) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-15
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN13-0034-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 30 lakes in Chisago County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pioneer Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about Pioneer Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pioneer Lake?
- Pioneer Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). 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?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Pioneer Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 47.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pioneer Lake?
- Pioneer Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Are there boat ramps on Pioneer Lake?
- Pioneer Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Center Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pioneer Lake across LakeGrade
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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)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate