Sturgeon Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota1,585 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Sturgeon Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 80 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Sturgeon Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 79.8 ft. Surface area: 1584.97 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 17, 2023 caught 0.53 walleye per gill net at Sturgeon Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–22 inches. DNR survey details →
Sturgeon Lake is a 1,585-acre mesotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 80 feet. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Sturgeon Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-17. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Sturgeon Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.8 ft of visibility
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 25
- Deep water79.8 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,585 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Sturgeon Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Sturgeon Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Sturgeon Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Sturgeon Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.8 ft. Phosphorus 12.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.7 µg/L. TSI 40.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 13.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 12.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 40 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Sturgeon Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Sturgeon Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 56°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 58°F) and coldest in May (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (47°F) to its warmest (58°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 173 field readings (2011–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sturgeon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 17, 2023 caught 0.53 walleye per gill net at Sturgeon Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–22 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sturgeon Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-17 (Targeted Survey).
8 surveys on file · most recent 2023-07-17 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 4.44 | 3–8 in 2023-07-17 | 0.22 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 4.11 | 6–12 in 2023-07-17 | 0.46 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.27 | 9–34 in 2023-07-17 | 1.8 lb |
| Walleye | 1.11 | 13–22 in 2023-07-17 | 2.05 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 1.10 | 7–10 in 2023-07-17 | 0.18 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.01 | 5–13 in 2023-07-17 | 0.41 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Bluegill
Tullibee (Cisco)
Northern Pike
Walleye
From the 2023-07-17 survey
Sturgeon Lake is a 1,664-acre lake located 14 miles northwest of Chisholm, MN, within the Little Fork River watershed. A public access is located on the southeast shore within McCarthy Beach State Park. The lake has a maximum depth of 80 feet and 40 percent of the lake is less than 15 feet deep. Water chemistry…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sturgeon Lake. 6 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SturgeonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sturgeon (0830)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sturgeon (1769)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sturgeon (1770)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SturgeonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SturgeonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
79.8 ft
Surface area
1,585 acres
Shoreline
10.8 mi
Littoral zone
42%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
14 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,365 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sturgeon LakePublic
- Sturgeon RiverPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
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Stays near Sturgeon Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sturgeon Lake
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 25
Earliest Mar 27, 2012 · Latest May 13, 1996
Typical ice-in
Nov 30
Earliest Nov 23, 2007 · Latest Dec 1, 2006
Most recent ice-out
Apr 14
2024
42 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sturgeon Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sturgeon Lake (completed 1936), built primarily for recreation on the Sturgeon River; gravity-type dam, 8 ft tall and 75 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,050 ac
- Normal storage
- 65,560 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 75,599 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 48.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00095 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Sturgeon Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0939-01 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Sturgeon Lake
Where is Sturgeon Lake?
- Sturgeon Lake is a lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Sturgeon Lake?
- Sturgeon Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 79.8 ft. Surface area: 1584.97 acres.
Is Sturgeon Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Sturgeon Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Sturgeon Lake?
- Sturgeon Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in September, from 173 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sturgeon Lake?
- Sturgeon Lake has a maximum depth of 79.8 feet. The lake covers 1584.97 acres.
What fish are in Sturgeon Lake?
- Fish species found in Sturgeon Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, golden redhorse, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Sturgeon Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Sturgeon Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 17, 2023 caught 0.53 walleye per gill net at Sturgeon Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–22 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sturgeon Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Sturgeon Lake thaw?
- Sturgeon Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 25. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 219 days.
Are there boat ramps on Sturgeon Lake?
- Sturgeon Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sturgeon Lake, Sturgeon River. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Sturgeon Lake?
- Sturgeon Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
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Where this data comes from
15 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
MNPCA15 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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