Shagawa Lake
Shagawa Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 2344.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- Area
- 2,345 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 28
- Open water
- 205 days
Next lake in St. Louis County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Shagawa Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Why Shagawa 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 Shagawa Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
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.
Shagawa Lake is a 2,345-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 48 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and cisco species. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-27. 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 Shagawa Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.4 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Shagawa Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shagawa 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 Shagawa Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,345 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 23.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 30% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Shagawa Lake (Southwest)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shagawa 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
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 119.70 | 0.25 lb |
| CIS | 16.56 | 0.72 lb |
| Walleye | 11.25 | 1.06 lb |
| White Sucker | 9.95 | 1.95 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 4.11 | 1.11 lb |
| BUB | 4.11 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
CIS
Walleye
White Sucker
From the 2022-07-11 survey
Shagawa Lake is located on the north side of Ely. There are two main accesses, one each on the north and south sides of the lake. The access on the north side is basically a ramp immediately adjacent to Co Rd 88. There is very little parking at this location. The other access on south side consists of two concrete…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shagawa Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShagawaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Shagawa (1900)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ShagawaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ShagawaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.872 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (147 observations).
Estimated open water season: 205 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-27 (2012) | 1996-05-16 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-06 (1991) | 2002-12-10 (2002) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-07
EPA Impairment Status
Shagawa 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 MN69-0069-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Shagawa Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Ely WwtpEly · 0.5 mi away · NPDES MN0020508MajorRecent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Shagawa Lake
Shagawa Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Shagawa Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shagawa Lake?
- Shagawa Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 2344.5 acres.
Is Shagawa Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Shagawa Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Shagawa Lake?
- Shagawa Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet. The lake covers 2344.5 acres.
What fish are in Shagawa Lake?
- Fish species found in Shagawa Lake include black crappie, bluegill, cisco species, muskellunge, northern pike, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Shagawa Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
When does Shagawa Lake thaw?
- Shagawa Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 28. Ice typically forms around Nov 19. The open water season is approximately 205 days.
Are there boat ramps on Shagawa Lake?
- Shagawa Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shagawa Lake (Southwest). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shagawa Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
73 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA73 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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