Pokegama Lake
Pokegama Lake in Pine County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). 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.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 1,521 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 12
- Open water
- 230 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Pokegama Lake →
Next lake in Pine County
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). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 2 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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: 170 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 46.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 170 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 46.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Pokegama Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pokegama Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Pokegama Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Average Depth | 9.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,521 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 10.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 59% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pokegama Lake (South)Public
- Pokegama Lake (North)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-10-15 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Drum | 9.00 | 0.69 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.79 | 0.18 lb |
| White Crappie | 7.87 | 0.31 lb |
| BUB | 7.71 | — |
| Walleye | 7.42 | 1.29 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.95 | 1.37 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.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.043 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (17 observations).
Estimated open water season: 230 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-04 (2024) | 2013-05-06 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2008-11-21 (2008) | 2016-12-10 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-04
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Pine County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pokegama Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Pine County
Frequently asked questions about Pokegama Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pokegama Lake?
- Pokegama Lake in Pine County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). 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?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Pokegama Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 46.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pokegama Lake?
- Pokegama Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, 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.
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 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pokegama Lake (South), Pokegama Lake (North). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pokegama Lake across LakeGrade
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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)
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
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