Shoal Lake
Shoal Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Surface area: 675.85 acres.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Area
- 676 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- May 3
- Open water
- 191 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Shoal 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 Shoal 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, but not 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.
Shoal Lake is a 676-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-20. 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 Shoal Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Shoal Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shoal Lake in Itasca 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 Shoal Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Shoal Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shoal Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 676 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 98% |
| Public Access | No |
The available depth estimate for Shoal Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Shoal Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1988-07-06 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 54.13 | 0.36 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 40.19 | 0.16 lb |
| GOS | 15.13 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 6.00 | 0.16 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.06 | 1.17 lb |
| CSH | 0.25 | 0.05 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1988-07-06 survey
THE YELLOW PERCH IS THE MOST ABUNDANT GAME FISH SPECIES IN THIS LAKE AND ARE OF ACCEPTABLE SIZE FOR MOST ANGLERS. THE LARGE SIZE OF CAPTURED PERCH INDICATE THE LAKE HASN'T HAD A SEVERE WINTERKILL IN THE PAST 3 TO 4 YEARS. BULLHEADS AND WHITE SUCKERS ARE ALSO PRESENT IN FAIR ABUNDANCE. FATHEADS, GOLDEN SHINERS,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shoal Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShoalFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.034 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (7 observations).
Estimated open water season: 191 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-12 (2015) | 1996-05-05 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-09 (2018) | 2017-11-10 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-04-12
EPA Impairment Status
Shoal 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 MN31-0384-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.55 km)
Graded lakes near Shoal Lake
Shoal Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Shoal Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shoal Lake?
- Shoal Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Surface area: 675.85 acres.
Is Shoal Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Shoal Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Shoal Lake?
- Shoal Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Shoal Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Shoal Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 675.85 acres.
When does Shoal Lake thaw?
- Shoal Lake typically has ice-out around May 3. Ice typically forms around Nov 10. The open water season is approximately 191 days.
Explore Shoal Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
99 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
MNPCA99 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate