White Oak Lake
White Oak Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.4 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Mean depth
- ~4 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near White Oak Lake →
Next lake in Itasca County
White Oak Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 4 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, White Oak Lake ranks #70 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-06-25. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 44 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near White Oak Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near White Oak 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around White Oak Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near White Oak Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
White Oak Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°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 16 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full White Oak Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~4 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for White Oak Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- White Oak LakePublic
Fishing White Oak Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for White Oak Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Aquatic Plant Report — White Oak (0665)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — White OakPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +6.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -8.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #70 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
White Oak Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about White Oak Lake
What is the water quality grade for White Oak Lake?
- White Oak Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.4 µg/L.
Is White Oak Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. White Oak Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 13.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of White Oak Lake?
- White Oak Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is White Oak Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers White Oak Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 4 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on White Oak Lake?
- White Oak Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include White Oak Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA21 samples · 2024–2025
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory