Whitewater Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota1,212 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Whitewater Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 73 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Whitewater Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 73 ft. Surface area: 1212.25 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 21, 2023 caught 6.33 walleye per gill net at Whitewater Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–26 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Whitewater Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 70 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Whitewater Lake is a 1,212-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 73 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Whitewater Lake ranks #25 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-09. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Whitewater Lake covers about 1,200 acres in St. Louis County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Whitewater Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Whitewater Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14 ft of visibility
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Deep water73 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,212 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Whitewater Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Whitewater Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Whitewater Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Whitewater Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.8 µg/L. TSI 39.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 14.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 1.8µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 39 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Whitewater Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Whitewater Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 58°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 60°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (50°F) to its warmest (60°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 234 field readings (2019–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Whitewater Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 21, 2023 caught 6.33 walleye per gill net at Whitewater Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–26 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Whitewater Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-21 (Standard Survey).
10 surveys on file · most recent 2023-08-21 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 12.52 | 3–9 in 2023-08-21 | 0.2 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.38 | 8–15 in 2023-08-21 | 1 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.75 | 5–9 in 2023-08-21 | 0.2 lb |
| Walleye | 5.08 | 7–26 in 2023-08-21 | 1.59 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.79 | 8–41 in 2023-08-21 | 1.74 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.44 | 4–9 in 2023-08-21 | 0.23 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Walleye
From the 2023-08-21 survey
Whitewater Lake is a 2,351-acre lake located one mile west of Hoyt Lakes. There is a public access with multiple boat ramps and ample parking space located within the city campground on Fisherman's Point. Whitewater Lake is up to 73 feet deep and has a mostly gravel bottom, with isolated areas of rock along the dikes…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Whitewater Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WhitewaterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Whitewater (1877)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WhitewaterPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
73 ft
Surface area
1,212 acres
Shoreline
18.1 mi
Littoral zone
47%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
148 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,427 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Whitewater LakePublic
- Whitewater LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Whitewater Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Whitewater 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 Whitewater Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Whitewater Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Whitewater Lake
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2021–2024). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Worsening2 years
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Whitewater Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Whitewater Reservoir (completed 1954), built primarily for water supply on the St. Louis River-TR; earth-type dam, 40 ft tall and 3,165 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,233 ac
- Normal storage
- 20,562 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 26,873 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 112 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- MN Power and Light
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00770 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Whitewater Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0376-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Whitewater Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Hoyt Lakes WwtpHoyt Lakes · 1 mi away · NPDES MN0020206Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Whitewater Lake
Where is Whitewater Lake?
- Whitewater Lake is a lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Whitewater Lake?
- Whitewater Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 73 ft. Surface area: 1212.25 acres.
Is Whitewater Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Whitewater Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Whitewater Lake?
- Whitewater Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October, from 234 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Whitewater Lake?
- Whitewater Lake has a maximum depth of 73 feet. The lake covers 1212.25 acres.
What fish are in Whitewater Lake?
- Fish species found in Whitewater Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, burbot, channel catfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Whitewater Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Whitewater Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 21, 2023 caught 6.33 walleye per gill net at Whitewater Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–26 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Whitewater Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Whitewater Lake?
- Whitewater Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whitewater Lake, Whitewater Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Whitewater Lake?
- Whitewater Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Whitewater Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in St. Louis County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
76 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA76 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory