Schoolcraft Lake
Schoolcraft Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 170.43 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 170 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Hubbard County
Schoolcraft Lake is a 170-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet (15-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Schoolcraft Lake ranks #67 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Schoolcraft Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Schoolcraft Lake in Hubbard 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.
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Water Temperature
Schoolcraft Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 66°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 95 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Schoolcraft Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 170 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Schoolcraft LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Schoolcraft Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 26.49 | 0.29 lb |
| CNM | 12.36 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 11.92 | 0.27 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 7.38 | 0.56 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.51 | 1.25 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.94 | 0.42 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Brown Bullhead
Northern Pike
From the 2022-08-15 survey
Schoolcraft Lake is located three miles southwest of Lake George in northern Hubbard County. Schoolcraft has a surface area of 170 acres and a maximum depth of 37 feet. A state-owned public access is located on the north shore of the lake next to the outlet culvert. The access is very shallow and narrow with a cattail…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Schoolcraft Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SchoolcraftFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Schoolcraft (1300)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SchoolcraftFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SchoolcraftPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.15 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.8 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Schoolcraft 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 MN29-0215-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #67 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Schoolcraft Lake holds Grade C. 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 Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Schoolcraft Lake
What is the water quality grade for Schoolcraft Lake?
- Schoolcraft Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 170.43 acres.
Is Schoolcraft Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Schoolcraft Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Schoolcraft Lake?
- Schoolcraft Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 95 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Schoolcraft Lake?
- Schoolcraft Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 170.43 acres.
What fish are in Schoolcraft Lake?
- Fish species found in Schoolcraft Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Schoolcraft Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Schoolcraft Lake?
- Schoolcraft Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Schoolcraft Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Schoolcraft Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
115 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA115 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 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