Quill Lake
Quill Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 85.31 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.7 ft
- Max depth
- 46 ft
- Area
- 85 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Quill Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Quill Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not phosphorus.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Quill Lake is a 85-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 46 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, and rock bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Quill Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.7 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 1.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.8 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Quill Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Quill Lake in St. Louis 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Quill Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 46 ft |
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 27% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Quill Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2015-07-27 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 5.71 | 0.53 lb |
| Rock Bass | 0.56 | 0.23 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.37 | 0.05 lb |
| Northern Pike | 0.17 | 18.08 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.
Largemouth Bass
Rock Bass
Pumpkinseed
Northern Pike
From the 2015-07-27 survey
Quill Lake is located about 19 miles ESE of International Falls, MN. The lake is 85 acres and generally deep; only 27 percent is less than 15 feet deep. Several species of sportfish were present in 2015. Largemouth Bass trap-net abundance was above the expected range for this lake type and above the level found in the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Quill Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — QuillFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.5 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Quill 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 MN69-0871-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Quill Lake
Quill Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Quill Lake
What is the water quality grade for Quill Lake?
- Quill Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 85.31 acres.
Is Quill Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Quill Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Quill Lake?
- Quill Lake has a maximum depth of 46 feet. The lake covers 85.31 acres.
What fish are in Quill Lake?
- Fish species found in Quill Lake include largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, rock bass, yellow perch. Quill Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA4 samples · 2022 - USGS Minnesota Water Science Center
USGS-MN1 sample · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder