Unnamed Lake
Unnamed Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 53 ft. Surface area: 38.97 acres.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 53 ft
- Area
- 39 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 220 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Unnamed 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 Unnamed 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.
Unnamed Lake is a 39-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 53 feet (23-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 6 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-07-28. 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 Unnamed Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Unnamed Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Unnamed Lake in Itasca 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 Unnamed Lake
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Water Temperature
Unnamed Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 57°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 63°F) and coldest in May (about 46°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 40 field readings (2016–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Unnamed Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 53 ft |
| Average Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 33% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sylvan BayPublic
- Steamboat LandingPublic
- Forest LakePublic
- Hale LakePublic
- Crystal LakePublic
- Prairie RiverPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Unnamed 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2014-07-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 8.35 | 0.13 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.27 | 1.63 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.89 | 0.2 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 1.88 | 0.93 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 1.75 | 0.44 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 1.43 | 0.66 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
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
Brown Bullhead
From the 2014-07-28 survey
Ice Lake is a small, mesotrophic lake located in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Ice Lake has a surface area of 42 acres, a littoral area of 13 acres, and a maximum depth of 53 feet. The lake is clear and the Secchi depth was 10 feet during the 2014 assessment. Ice Lake has an inlet from McKinney Lake and outlets to Hale…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Unnamed Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — IceFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Ice (0605)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — IcePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.106 m/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (31 observations).
Estimated open water season: 220 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-30 (2000) | 1996-05-05 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 1995-11-12 (1995) | 1998-12-08 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-18
EPA Impairment Status
Unnamed 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 MN31-0533-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.59 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Unnamed Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Grand Rapids WwtpGrand Rapids · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MN0022080MajorRecent violation
- Minnesota Power Rapids EnergyGrand Rapids · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MN0066559
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Unnamed Lake
Unnamed Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Unnamed Lake
What is the water quality grade for Unnamed Lake?
- Unnamed Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 53 ft. Surface area: 38.97 acres.
Is Unnamed Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Unnamed 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 Unnamed Lake?
- Unnamed Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, from 40 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Unnamed Lake?
- Unnamed Lake has a maximum depth of 53 feet and an average depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 38.97 acres.
What fish are in Unnamed Lake?
- Fish species found in Unnamed Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead. Unnamed Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Unnamed Lake thaw?
- Unnamed Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 220 days.
Are there boat ramps on Unnamed Lake?
- Unnamed Lake has 6 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sylvan Bay, Steamboat Landing, Forest Lake, Hale Lake, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Unnamed Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2021–2024
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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