Rabour Lake
Rabour Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 52.56 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 43 ft
- Area
- 53 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 7
- Open water
- 229 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Rabour Lake →
Next lake in Chisago County
Rabour Lake is a 53-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 43 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Chisago County, Rabour Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 48 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 22.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 48 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 22.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Rabour Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rabour Lake in Chisago 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 Rabour Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Rabour Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Rabour Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Sep (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 44 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rabour Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 43 ft |
| Surface Area | 53 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 67% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Robour LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rabour 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
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-05-02 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 21.83 | 0.23 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 18.54 | 0.9 lb |
| Black Crappie | 17.26 | 0.21 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 16.41 | 0.33 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.88 | 0.09 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 7.59 | 0.12 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
Black Bullhead
From the 2016-05-02 survey
In May 2016, spring trap netting was conducted to assess Bluegill and Black Crappie populations and night electrofishing was used to assess that of Largemouth Bass. Both Bluegill and Black Crappie catch rates were higher in Rabour than in connected Mandall and Goose Lakes to the north. Black Crappie catch rates were…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rabour Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RabourFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — RabourPublic 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 | +0.045 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.3 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.51 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (52 observations).
Estimated open water season: 229 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-09 (2000) | 2014-04-27 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-04-01
EPA Impairment Status
Rabour 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 MN13-0079-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 30 lakes in Chisago County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Rabour Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about Rabour Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rabour Lake?
- Rabour Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 52.56 acres.
Is Rabour Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Rabour Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 22.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Rabour Lake?
- Rabour Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 44 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rabour Lake?
- Rabour Lake has a maximum depth of 43 feet. The lake covers 52.56 acres.
What fish are in Rabour Lake?
- Fish species found in Rabour Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye. Rabour Lake is located in Chisago County, Minnesota.
When does Rabour Lake thaw?
- Rabour Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 229 days.
Are there boat ramps on Rabour Lake?
- Rabour Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Robour Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Rabour Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
124 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA124 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate