Whiteface Reservoir
Whiteface Reservoir in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 4567.47 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 4,567 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in St. Louis County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Whiteface Reservoir, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Why Whiteface Reservoir 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 Whiteface Reservoir, 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, but not 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.
Whiteface Reservoir is a 4,567-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-14. 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 Whiteface Reservoir
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Whiteface Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Whiteface 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Whiteface Reservoir
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Surface Area | 4,567 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 93 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 24% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Whiteface Reservoir (South)Public
- USFS Campgrounds (North)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Whiteface Reservoir
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 4.81 | 0.88 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.78 | 0.52 lb |
| White Sucker | 2.75 | 2.78 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.39 | 0.44 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 1.24 | 0.32 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.23 | 2.03 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.
Walleye
Bluegill
White Sucker
Black Crappie
From the 2022-07-18 survey
Whiteface Reservoir was established in 1923 as a hydropower water storage reservoir when earthen dams were constructed on the Whiteface River and Skunk Creek. Much of the reservoir basin is flooded forest. At summertime highs, the reservoir occupies 4,567 acres and has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The reservoir is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Whiteface Reservoir. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Whiteface ReservoirFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Whiteface Reservoir (0983)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Whiteface ReservoirPublic 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 | -0.05 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (20 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-12 (2015) | 2008-05-03 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-07 (2019) | 2004-11-29 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-04-12
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Whiteface Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Whiteface Lake (completed 1922), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Skunk River, Whiteface River; earth-type dam, 40 ft tall and 1,365 ft long.
- Surface area
- 4,800 ac
- Normal storage
- 46,900 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 46,900 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 116 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Allete, Inc.
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00610 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Whiteface Reservoir 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 MN69-0375-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Whiteface Reservoir
What is the water quality grade for Whiteface Reservoir?
- Whiteface Reservoir in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 4567.47 acres.
Is Whiteface Reservoir safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Whiteface Reservoir is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Whiteface Reservoir?
- Whiteface Reservoir has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake covers 4567.47 acres.
What fish are in Whiteface Reservoir?
- Fish species found in Whiteface Reservoir include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Whiteface Reservoir is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
When does Whiteface Reservoir thaw?
- Whiteface Reservoir typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 20. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Are there boat ramps on Whiteface Reservoir?
- Whiteface Reservoir has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whiteface Reservoir (South), USFS Campgrounds (North). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Whiteface Reservoir across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
140 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA140 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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