Tamarack Lake
Tamarack Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 234.68 acres.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- Area
- 235 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
- Open water
- 223 days
Next lake in Carlton County
Why Tamarack 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 Tamarack 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.
Tamarack Lake is a 235-acre lake in Carlton County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 48 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-09. 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 Tamarack Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Tamarack Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tamarack Lake in Carlton 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 Tamarack Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Tamarack Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Tamarack Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 235 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 75% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Tamarack LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Tamarack Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 4.68 | 0.28 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.54 | 0.3 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.08 | 1.53 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 2.77 | 0.97 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.66 | 0.28 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 1.36 | 1.2 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.
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Northern Pike
Yellow Bass
From the 2021-06-28 survey
A standard survey was conducted on Tamarack Lake during the summer of 2021 to evaluate and update information about fish populations and to evaluate the Walleye stocking program. Walleye is the primary management species for Tamarack Lake. The current management plan for Tamarack directs Walleye fingerling stocking at…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Tamarack Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TamarackFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Tamarack (0240)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — TamarackFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — TamarackPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.031 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (28 observations).
Estimated open water season: 223 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-20 (2012) | 2013-05-10 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-06 (2019) | 2016-12-08 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2019-04-20
EPA Impairment Status
Tamarack 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 MN09-0067-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Tamarack Lake
Tamarack Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Carlton County
Frequently asked questions about Tamarack Lake
What is the water quality grade for Tamarack Lake?
- Tamarack Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 234.68 acres.
Is Tamarack Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Tamarack Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Tamarack Lake?
- Tamarack Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Tamarack Lake?
- Tamarack Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet. The lake covers 234.68 acres.
What fish are in Tamarack Lake?
- Fish species found in Tamarack Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Tamarack Lake is located in Carlton County, Minnesota.
When does Tamarack Lake thaw?
- Tamarack Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 223 days.
Are there boat ramps on Tamarack Lake?
- Tamarack Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Tamarack Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Tamarack Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Carlton County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
28 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
MNPCA28 samples · 2020–2025
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate