W Two Rivers Reservoir
W Two Rivers Reservoir in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 966.53 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 27 ft
- Area
- 967 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Free interactive depth-contour map of W Two Rivers Reservoir, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 25 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
W Two Rivers Reservoir is a 967-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, W Two Rivers Reservoir ranks #57 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near W Two Rivers Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near W Two Rivers Reservoir in St. Louis 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.
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Water Temperature
W Two Rivers Reservoir typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 54 field readings (2019–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full W Two Rivers Reservoir water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Surface Area | 967 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 30.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- West Two Rivers ReservoirPublic
Fishing W Two Rivers Reservoir
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2013-06-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 137.57 | 0.1 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 25.81 | 0.37 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.03 | 0.12 lb |
| White Sucker | 7.37 | 2.25 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.66 | 0.06 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.24 | 0.21 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.
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
From the 2013-06-17 survey
The West Two Rivers Reservoir (WTRR) is located two miles south of the town of Mountain Iron with its access via a concrete ramp on the northwest shore at the end of Co Rd 761. This 713 acre reservoir has a maximum depth of 27.0 feet and the water color at the time of the survey was green with an algae bloom. On June…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for W Two Rivers Reservoir. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — West Two Rivers ReservoirFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — West Two Rivers Reservoir (1783)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — West Two Rivers ReservoirPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
W Two Rivers Reservoir 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 MN69-0994-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.3 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #57 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about W Two Rivers Reservoir
What is the water quality grade for W Two Rivers Reservoir?
- W Two Rivers Reservoir in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 966.53 acres.
Is W Two Rivers Reservoir safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. W Two Rivers Reservoir has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of W Two Rivers Reservoir?
- W Two Rivers Reservoir typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 54 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is W Two Rivers Reservoir?
- W Two Rivers Reservoir has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 966.53 acres.
Are there boat ramps on W Two Rivers Reservoir?
- W Two Rivers Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Two Rivers Reservoir. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA16 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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