West Sturgeon Lake
West Sturgeon Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 116.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 55°F
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 117 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
Next lake in Itasca County
West Sturgeon Lake is a 117-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 31 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, West Sturgeon Lake ranks #59 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-17. 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 4.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near West Sturgeon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Sturgeon 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.
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Water Temperature
West Sturgeon Lake typically sits around 55°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 54°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 55°F) and coldest in May (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 110 field readings (2016–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full West Sturgeon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 117 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| 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 West Sturgeon Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-06-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 8.57 | 0.11 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 4.04 | 0.65 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.99 | 1.81 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 1.95 | 0.12 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.68 | 0.21 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.23 | 2.25 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
Tullibee (Cisco)
Northern Pike
Yellow Perch
From the 2016-06-20 survey
West Sturgeon is a small, infertile lake located about 15 miles northwest of Chisholm, Minnesota. There is no public access on the lake but access can be attained from other lakes in the chain. Small, infertile lakes like West Sturgeon often do not have the ability to produce high quality fisheries and are vulnerable…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for West Sturgeon Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — West SturgeonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — West Sturgeon (0829)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — West SturgeonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.075 m/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (24 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-31 (2000) | 1996-05-06 (1996) |
Most recent ice-out: 2006-04-14
EPA Impairment Status
West Sturgeon 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 MN69-0939-03 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #59 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about West Sturgeon Lake
What is the water quality grade for West Sturgeon Lake?
- West Sturgeon Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 116.9 acres.
Is West Sturgeon Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. West Sturgeon Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of West Sturgeon Lake?
- West Sturgeon Lake typically sits around 55°F at the surface in August, from 110 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is West Sturgeon Lake?
- West Sturgeon Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 116.9 acres.
What fish are in West Sturgeon Lake?
- Fish species found in West Sturgeon Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. West Sturgeon Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does West Sturgeon Lake thaw?
- West Sturgeon Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21.
Explore West Sturgeon Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2023
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate