Square Lake
Square Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 122.68 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.5 ft
- Max depth
- 7 ft
- Area
- 123 acres
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Lake County
Why Square 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 Square Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Square Lake is a 123-acre lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 7 feet. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including green sunfish, northern pike, and rock bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-07-30. 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 Square Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Square Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Square Lake in Lake 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 Square Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 123 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Square Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2015-07-27 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 13.46 | 1.92 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.74 | 0.18 lb |
| Walleye | 10.12 | 0.99 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.86 | 0.95 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1.33 | 1.57 lb |
| Rock Bass | 0.96 | 0.21 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.
White Sucker
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Northern Pike
From the 2015-07-27 survey
Square Lake has an area of 122 acres, and a maximum depth of 7 feet. Square Lake is within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) approximately 2.5 miles by canoe from the Kawishiwi Lake access point via Kawishiwi Lake and the Kawishiwi River. Square Lake is part of the popular non-motorized canoe route…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Square Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SquareFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Square 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 MN38-0074-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Square Lake
What is the water quality grade for Square Lake?
- Square Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 122.68 acres.
Is Square Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Square Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Square Lake?
- Square Lake has a maximum depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 122.68 acres.
What fish are in Square Lake?
- Fish species found in Square Lake include green sunfish, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Square Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2024
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