White Lake
White Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 123.07 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 123 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 23
- Open water
- 204 days
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why White 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 White 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, 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.
White Lake is a 123-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet (9-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, largemouth bass, and northern pike. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-09. 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 White Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.8 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near White Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near White Lake 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.
Top-rated places to stay near White Lake
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Water Temperature
White Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 96 field readings (2016–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full White Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Average Depth | 8.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 123 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 80% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bear LakePublic
- White LakePublic
- North Little Stone Lake RoadPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing White Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-08-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Pumpkinseed | 5.25 | 0.2 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.66 | 0.47 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.60 | 0.12 lb |
| Rock Bass | 3.82 | 0.41 lb |
| Walleye | 3.07 | 1.71 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.40 | 3.37 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.
Pumpkinseed
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
Rock Bass
From the 2017-08-14 survey
A standard survey was conducted on White Lake during the summer of 2017 to evaluate the Walleye stocking program and update information about other fish populations. Walleye and Black Crappie are the primary management species for White Lake. Walleye are stocked every other year in White Lake. Walleye abundance of 7.8…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for White Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WhiteFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — White (0496)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WhiteFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WhitePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.121 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (8 observations).
Estimated open water season: 204 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-04-12 (2017) | 2022-05-08 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-10 (2017) | 2015-11-22 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-08
EPA Impairment Status
White 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 MN69-0030-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near White Lake
White Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about White Lake
What is the water quality grade for White Lake?
- White Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 123.07 acres.
Is White Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. White Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of White Lake?
- White Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 96 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is White Lake?
- White Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet and an average depth of 8.5 feet. The lake covers 123.07 acres.
What fish are in White Lake?
- Fish species found in White Lake include black crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. White Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
When does White Lake thaw?
- White Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23. Ice typically forms around Nov 13. The open water season is approximately 204 days.
Are there boat ramps on White Lake?
- White Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bear Lake, White Lake, North Little Stone Lake Road. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore White Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
44 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA43 samples · 2020–2024 - Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Monitoring
MNDA_PESTICIDE1 sample · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate