Rabbit Lake
Lake County, MinnesotaLimited DataOligotrophic
On the LakeGrade scale Rabbit Lake grades a B, with clarity at 13.5 ft and phosphorus readings still being added placing it above the Minnesota median.
Trophically, Rabbit Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. Rabbit Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 105 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. Rabbit Lake covers 117 acres alongside 3.4 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Rabbit Lake ranks 39 of 142 in Lake County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
Rabbit Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2023, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Rabbit Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Rabbit 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 2023-06-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 105 ft |
| Surface Area | 117.02 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 17% |
| Public Access | No |
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.221 m/yr | 4 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #39 of 142 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-01 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | 5.25 | — |
| BUB | 1.25 | — |
| White Sucker | 1.25 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 2025-08-01 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Rabbit Lake on August 1st, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Lake Trout…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rabbit Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RabbitFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Rabbit 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 MN38-0211-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.13 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: 2023-06-09
Monitoring stations: 1