Quarter Line Lake
St. Louis County, MinnesotaLimited DataEutrophic
Quarter Line Lake earns a D — measurements through 2023 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. Quarter Line Lake reaches 22 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake is compact at 20 acres, with 0.9 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Quarter Line Lake ranks 151 of 187 in St. Louis County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Quarter Line Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. No formal public access is documented at Quarter Line Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Track Quarter Line Lake
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 19.56 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 0.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 92% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Quarter Line Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Quarter Line Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Quarter Line Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.01 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.55 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #151 of 187 lakes in St. Louis County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Quarter Line Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-06-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 5.46 | 1.11 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.54 | 0.33 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 1.00 | 0.98 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.
Northern Pike
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
From the 2007-06-25 survey
Quarterline is a small (21 acre), bog stained lake located on the Kabetogama Peninsula within the interior of Voyaguers National Park. Quarterline Lake is only accessible via portage trails; the shortest commensing in Lost Bay of Kabetogama Lake. The lake has a maximum depth of 22.0 feet and, except for the bog in the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Quarter Line Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — UnnamedFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Quarter Line 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 MN69-0869-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.1 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2023-08-21
Monitoring stations: 1