Steamboat Lake
Steamboat Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 59.52 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 60 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Aitkin County
Why Steamboat 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 Steamboat 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.
Steamboat Lake is a 60-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-11. 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 Steamboat Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Steamboat Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Steamboat Lake in Aitkin 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 Steamboat Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 64% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Rock LakePublic
- Round LakePublic
Fishing Steamboat Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1990-08-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 20.50 | 0.14 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 11.38 | 0.43 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.17 | 1.93 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 1.43 | 0.16 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.43 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 0.43 | 0.33 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1990-08-08 survey
The gill net index for northern pike was below the lake class 36 first quartile. The trap net indices for yellow bullhead, pumpkinseed, bluegill, and black crappie were below the lake class 36 first quartiles. The trap net index for brb was above the lake class 36 third quartile. Northern pike sampled (16 of 16 aged)…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Steamboat Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SteamboatFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.2 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Steamboat Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN01-0070-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.32 km)
Graded lakes near Steamboat Lake
Steamboat Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Steamboat Lake
What is the water quality grade for Steamboat Lake?
- Steamboat Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 59.52 acres.
Is Steamboat Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Steamboat 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 Steamboat Lake?
- Steamboat Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 59.52 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Steamboat Lake?
- Steamboat Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Rock Lake, Round Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA3 samples · 2023
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory