Tofte Lake
Tofte Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 18.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 73 ft. Surface area: 133.78 acres.
- Clarity
- 18.5 ft
- Max depth
- 73 ft
- Area
- 134 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lake County
Why Tofte 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 Tofte 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.
Tofte Lake is a 134-acre lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 73 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including rainbow trout, splake, and white sucker. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-12. 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 Tofte Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 18.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Tofte Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tofte Lake in Lake 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 Tofte Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 73 ft |
| Surface Area | 134 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 31% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Tofte LakePublic
- Ojibway Lake (North)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Tofte 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.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-04-22 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 1583.75 | — |
| OTM | 231.50 | — |
| BST | 30.75 | — |
| IOD | 26.00 | — |
| White Sucker | 13.53 | 1.35 lb |
| PRD | 7.92 | 0.1 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
From the 2024-04-22 survey
Tofte is a 134-acre designated stream trout lake located 14 miles east of Ely off the Fernberg Road. It is clear, has a maximum depth of 73 feet, and has generally rocky shorelines interspersed with areas of muck. Aquatic vegetation is largely limited to the shallow north bay. Four primitive campsites are present…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Tofte Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TofteFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Tofte (1889)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — TofteFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ToftePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.295 m/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Tofte Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0714-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.33 km)
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Tofte Lake
What is the water quality grade for Tofte Lake?
- Tofte Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 18.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 73 ft. Surface area: 133.78 acres.
Is Tofte Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Tofte 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 Tofte Lake?
- Tofte Lake has a maximum depth of 73 feet. The lake covers 133.78 acres.
What fish are in Tofte Lake?
- Fish species found in Tofte Lake include rainbow trout, splake, white sucker. Tofte Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Tofte Lake?
- Tofte Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Tofte Lake, Ojibway Lake (North). Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
28 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA28 samples · 2020–2023
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