Trestle Lake
Itasca County, MinnesotaLimited DataMesotrophic
On the LakeGrade scale Trestle Lake grades a B, with clarity at 12.0 ft and phosphorus readings still being added placing it above the Minnesota median.
The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. A maximum depth of 48 ft puts Trestle Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. Trestle Lake is small — 88 acres alongside 2.1 miles of shoreline — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Trestle Lake sits at rank 71 of 141 in Itasca County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Trestle Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Trestle Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Trestle Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 87.56 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.1 mi |
| Public Access | No |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #71 of 141 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Trestle Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1979-07-16 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 5.25 | 0.39 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.00 | 1.18 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 4.50 | 0.96 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 2.13 | 0.35 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.25 | 2.69 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1.13 | 1.25 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1979-07-16 survey
Bass populations are higher than state and local medians. All other fish populations are within normal limits for this type of lake.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Trestle Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TrestleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Trestle 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 MN31-0193-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.49 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2020-09-03
Monitoring stations: 1