Whitewater Lake
Whitewater Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Typical in August
- 60°F
- Max depth
- 73 ft
- Area
- 1,212 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
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. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Whitewater Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay 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
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Whitewater Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 73 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,212 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 18.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 47% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Whitewater LakePublic
- Whitewater LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Whitewater Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 12.52 | 0.2 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.38 | 1 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.75 | 0.2 lb |
| Walleye | 5.08 | 1.59 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.79 | 1.74 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.44 | 0.23 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.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.143 m/yr | 2 |
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #25 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Whitewater Lake
What is the water quality grade for Whitewater Lake?
- Whitewater Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Whitewater Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Whitewater Lake?
- Whitewater Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Whitewater Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in St. Louis County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Lake Vermilion Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Whitewater Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Whitewater Lake With Nearby Lakes
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)
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
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