St James Pit Lake
St James Pit Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 47.6 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 381 ft. Surface area: 124.18 acres.
- Clarity
- 47.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 47°F
- Max depth
- 381 ft
- Area
- 124 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why St James Pit 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 St James Pit 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 and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not phosphorus.
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.
St James Pit Lake is a 124-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 381 feet (115-foot average). The lake supports 5 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and rainbow trout. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-14. 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 St James Pit Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 47.6 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 29.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 47.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 29 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near St James Pit Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near St James Pit 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 St James Pit Lake
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Water Temperature
St James Pit Lake typically sits around 47°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 50°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 53°F) and coldest in Aug (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 44 field readings (2019–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full St James Pit Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 381 ft |
| Average Depth | 114.7 ft |
| Surface Area | 124 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 7% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- St. James Mine Pit LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing St James Pit 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
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-05-22 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 3.52 | 1.26 lb |
| Rainbow Trout | 1.50 | 0.68 lb |
| Walleye | 1.00 | 3.58 lb |
| Lake Trout | 0.50 | 0.5 lb |
| Brook Trout | 0.33 | 0.46 lb |
| Bluegill | 0.25 | 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
Rainbow Trout
Walleye
Brook Trout
From the 2024-05-22 survey
St. James Pit is a former mine pit now managed for stream trout; however, it is not a designated trout lake. A trout stamp is required to harvest trout from St. James Pit. The main access is a concrete ramp along the southeast shore just north of the town of Aurora. This 100-acre lake has a maximum depth of 381 feet…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for St James Pit Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — St James PitFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — St James PitFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — St James PitPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of St James Pit Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Aurora WwtpAurora · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MN0020494Recent 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 St James Pit Lake
St James Pit Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about St James Pit Lake
What is the water quality grade for St James Pit Lake?
- St James Pit Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 47.6 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 381 ft. Surface area: 124.18 acres.
Is St James Pit Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. St James Pit Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of St James Pit Lake?
- St James Pit Lake typically sits around 47°F at the surface in August, from 44 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is St James Pit Lake?
- St James Pit Lake has a maximum depth of 381 feet and an average depth of 114.7 feet. The lake covers 124.18 acres.
What fish are in St James Pit Lake?
- Fish species found in St James Pit Lake include black crappie, bluegill, rainbow trout, walleye, white sucker. St James Pit Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on St James Pit Lake?
- St James Pit Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include St. James Mine Pit Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA6 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 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
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