Whiteface Reservoir
St. Louis County, MinnesotaLimited DataEutrophic
Whiteface Reservoir grades an F: every scored parameter (clarity) rates poorly, placing it among the most stressed lakes monitored in Minnesota.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. The lake bottoms out at 35 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 4,567 acres, Whiteface Reservoir is one of the larger lakes in St. Louis County, with 93.0 miles of shoreline supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Within the 187 graded lakes of St. Louis County, Whiteface Reservoir sits at rank 182, near the bottom of the county list.
No invasive species are currently listed at Whiteface Reservoir — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 11 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The lake has a partial ice record — 9 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 21. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Surface Area | 4.6K acres |
| Shoreline Length | 93 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 24% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Whiteface Reservoir (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Whiteface Reservoir? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Whiteface Reservoir fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.092 m/yr | 5 |
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
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #182 of 187 lakes in St. Louis County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Whiteface Reservoir holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Whiteface Reservoir With Nearby Lakes
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.
- —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
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
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-16
Monitoring stations: 2