Pokegama Lake
Pine County, Minnesota1,521 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Pokegama Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 25 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Pokegama Lake in Pine County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 170 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 46.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 1521.47 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 11, 2022 caught 2.33 walleye per gill net at Pokegama Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–22 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Pokegama Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Pokegama Lake is a 1,521-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Pine County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet (10-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 23 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Pine County, Pokegama Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-06-30. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Pokegama Lake covers about 1,500 acres in Pine County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 12, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Pokegama Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Pokegama Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing23 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 12
- Big water1,521 acres
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. Pokegama Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Pokegama 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 Pokegama Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Pokegama 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 170 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 46.8 µg/L. TSI 71.
| 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 | 170µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 46.8µg/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. | 71 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Pokegama Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Pokegama Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (59°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 45 field readings (2018–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pokegama Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Pokegama Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (654,636 cells/mL) on July 19, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 11, 2022 caught 2.33 walleye per gill net at Pokegama Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–22 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pokegama 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
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-10-15 (Targeted Survey).
16 surveys on file · most recent 2025-10-15 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Drum | 9.00 | 1–22 in 2022-07-11 | 0.69 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.79 | 4–9 in 2022-07-11 | 0.18 lb |
| White Crappie | 7.87 | 9–12 in 2025-05-16 | 0.31 lb |
| Walleye | 7.42 | 6–22 in 2025-10-15 | 1.29 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.95 | 6–13 in 2022-07-11 | 1.37 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.
Freshwater Drum
Yellow Perch
White Crappie
Walleye
From the 2025-10-15 survey
Pokegama Lake is a 1,474-acre lake located west of Pine City and is within the Snake River watershed. It has a maximum depth of 25 feet, has an average depth of 9.8 feet, and is 61% littoral (depths less than 15 feet, 903 acres). It has two inlets, Pokegama Creek in the north and one unnamed inlet flowing into Jarvis…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pokegama Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PokegamaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Pokegama (0387)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PokegamaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PokegamaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
25 ft
Average depth
9.8 ft
Surface area
1,521 acres
Shoreline
10.4 mi
Littoral zone
59%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
946 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
915 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pokegama Lake (South)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Pokegama Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pokegama Lake in Pine 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 Pokegama Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pokegama 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 Pokegama Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pokegama 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
Improving6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 12
Earliest Mar 4, 2024 · Latest May 6, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 28
Earliest Nov 21, 2008 · Latest Dec 10, 2016
Most recent ice-out
Mar 4
2024
17 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Pokegama Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN58-0142-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Pokegama Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Pine City WwtpPine City · 3.7 mi away · NPDES MN0021784Recent 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 Pine County
Frequently asked questions about Pokegama Lake
Where is Pokegama Lake?
- Pokegama Lake is a lake in Pine County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Pokegama Lake?
- Pokegama Lake in Pine County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 170 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 46.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 1521.47 acres.
Is Pokegama Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Pokegama Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Pokegama Lake?
- Pokegama Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, from 45 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pokegama Lake?
- Pokegama Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet and an average depth of 9.8 feet. The lake covers 1521.47 acres.
What fish are in Pokegama Lake?
- Fish species found in Pokegama Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), burbot, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, golden redhorse, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Pokegama Lake is located in Pine County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pokegama Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 11, 2022 caught 2.33 walleye per gill net at Pokegama Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–22 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pokegama 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 Pokegama Lake thaw?
- Pokegama Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 12. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 230 days.
Does Pokegama Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Pokegama Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (654,636 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Pokegama Lake?
- Pokegama Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pokegama Lake (South). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Pokegama Lake?
- Pokegama 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 Pokegama Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
67 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA67 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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