Strand Lake
Strand Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 330.21 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 330 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 219 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Strand Lake →
Next lake in St. Louis County
Strand Lake is a 330-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Strand Lake ranks #65 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Strand Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 44 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Strand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Strand 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Strand Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Strand Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Strand Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Oct (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 83 field readings (2019–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Strand Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 330 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Strand LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Strand Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 5.22 | 1.34 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.73 | 0.4 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.54 | 0.23 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.60 | 0.63 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.51 | 0.3 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.43 | 3.2 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.
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Pumpkinseed
Black Crappie
From the 2025-09-08 survey
Strand Lake is a 330-acre lake located 5 miles southeast of Cotton, Minnesota, with a maximum depth of 16 feet. There is a township administered; gravel back-in access located on the north side of the lake off County Road 973. The 2019 Lake Management Plan (LMP) identified Walleye, Bluegill, and Black Crappie as…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Strand Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StrandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Strand (1821)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StrandFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StrandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.068 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.29 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.03 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (18 observations).
Estimated open water season: 219 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2006-04-11 (2006) | 2008-04-26 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-05 (2017) | 2006-11-29 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-17
EPA Impairment Status
Strand Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0529-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #65 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Strand Lake
What is the water quality grade for Strand Lake?
- Strand Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 330.21 acres.
Is Strand Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Strand Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Strand Lake?
- Strand Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 83 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Strand Lake?
- Strand Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 330.21 acres.
What fish are in Strand Lake?
- Fish species found in Strand Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Strand Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
When does Strand Lake thaw?
- Strand Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 219 days.
Are there boat ramps on Strand Lake?
- Strand Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Strand Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Strand Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
112 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
MNPCA112 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate