Ward Lake
Ward Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 38.85 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.6 ft
- Max depth
- 13 ft
- Area
- 39 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cook County
Ward Lake is a 39-acre mesotrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 13 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including northern pike and white sucker. Public access is available. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Ward Lake ranks #26 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-22. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ward Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ward Lake in Cook 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ward Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2015-06-22 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 10.89 | 0.82 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 4.97 | — |
| FND | 3.65 | — |
| NRD | 1.80 | — |
| White Sucker | 1.02 | 2.61 lb |
| BST | 0.27 | — |
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.
Northern Pike
White Sucker
From the 2015-06-22 survey
Northern pike were very abundant in 2015, but also very small, with no fish larger than 20 inches taken. Both results were typical for this lake, which has long been known to support high numbers of small fish. The small size of the northern pike in Ward Lake was due mainly to their slow growth rates. Fish as old as…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ward Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WardFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WardPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.074 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.44 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.4 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Ward 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 MN16-0360-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.13 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #26 of 44 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Ward Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ward Lake?
- Ward Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 38.85 acres.
Is Ward Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Ward Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Ward Lake?
- Ward Lake has a maximum depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 38.85 acres.
What fish are in Ward Lake?
- Fish species found in Ward Lake include northern pike, white sucker. Ward Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
Explore Ward Lake across LakeGrade
5.1 mi away · 30 ft
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Where this data comes from
12 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
MNPCA12 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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