Leavitt Lake

How big is Leavitt Lake?

How deep is Leavitt Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Leavitt Lake?

What are the closest cities to Leavitt Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Leavitt Lake?

We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of Leavitt Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Leavitt Lake

Are there boat launches on Leavitt Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Leavitt Lake?

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Leavitt Lake was conducted on July 5-6, 2023, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine. Nearshore sampling captured fourteen species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Rock Bass, and Northern Sunfish) and zero that are tolerant of disturbance.

A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured eight species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). Bowfin and Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by biomass, but overall catches were very light.

The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from the week of June 13, 2022 to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Least Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.

IBI Program staff also conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on September 26, 2023, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 30 survey sites evenly spaced 200 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 70.8 (+/- 4.0) out of 100 possible. A score of 70.8 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is moderate overall. Approximately 73 percent of the sites were developed, with a mean score of 63.9 (+/- 4.6) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is poor, while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 90.0 (+/- 2.2) with high habitat quality.

Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Leavitt Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Pine River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

What is the average air temp for Leavitt Lake?

Are there any state parks near Leavitt Lake?