Lake · Pine County · MN

Is Grindstone Lake safe to swim?

No advisory

No advisory or algae bloom reported for this water today.

Updated August 20, 2026 · EPA CyAN satellite

Recent rain (modeled)
0.0 in
Water type
Lake
Last updated
Aug 20
Bacteria
E. coli, fecal
Not monitored
Tested
Not monitored

No bacteria advisory or sampling for this water.

Blue-green algae
cyanobacteria
No advisory
Tested
None detected
Advisory over
100,000
cells/mL

No blue-green algae bloom detected in the latest clear satellite image. This is a satellite estimate, not a safety guarantee, and does not replace an official advisory.

Satellite estimate · imaged Jul 21 · EPA CyAN satellite · low confidence
An estimate from EPA CyAN satellite imagery, not a water sample or an official advisory. Check your state or county health department for the official status. Report a data question.

SwimZone for iPhone · launching soon

Grindstone Lake is clear today. Be the first to know when it's not.

SwimZone checks this water every day and pings you the moment a bacteria or algae advisory goes up.

What's in the water at Grindstone Lake right now

As of August 20, 2026, Grindstone Lake in Pine County, Minnesota has no advisory posted. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (July 21, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee. Modeled rainfall over the past week was about 0.0 in (Open-Meteo, a gridded estimate that can differ from a local gauge), which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Blue-green algae at Grindstone Lake

Grindstone Lake is a lake in Pine County, Minnesota covering about 0.8 sq mi, the 518th-largest of the 975 lakes SwimZone monitors in Minnesota. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (July 21, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee.

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are most common from midsummer into early fall, when the water is warm, calm, and rich in nutrients from runoff. They can produce toxins that make people sick and can be rapidly fatal to dogs, so skip water that looks green, scummy, or like spilled paint, and keep children and pets out of it.

Bloom history at Grindstone Lake

From EPA CyAN's satellite archive

20212022: peak satellite estimate about 84,000 cells/mL, below the bloom-level threshold222023: peak satellite estimate about 52,000 cells/mL, below the bloom-level threshold232024: peak satellite estimate about 41,000 cells/mL, below the bloom-level threshold242025: peak satellite estimate about 77,000 cells/mL, below the bloom-level threshold2526Bloom level~100k cells/mL

Each bar is that summer's peak EPA CyAN satellite estimate (log scale); the red cap is the part above the bloom-level threshold. Satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories.

Over 7 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2020, Grindstone Lake has not shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal. This is an estimate, not a guarantee, and conditions can change quickly, so check the current read and official advisories before you swim.

When to swim at Grindstone Lake

It is currently peak season for blue-green algae, when warm, calm water lets blooms form fastest. This water has no recorded advisory-level bloom in its satellite history, which makes it a comparatively steady summer swim spot; conditions still change between samples, so check the current read before you go.

Frequently asked: swimming in Grindstone Lake

Is it safe to swim in Grindstone Lake right now?
Grindstone Lake has no advisory posted today. EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom in the latest clear image (July 21, 2026), which is an estimate, not a guarantee. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.
Does Grindstone Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
EPA's CyAN satellite detected no blue-green algae bloom at Grindstone Lake in the latest clear image (July 21, 2026). This is a satellite estimate below the sensor's detection limit, not a guarantee: cyanobacteria can appear within hours in warm, calm, nutrient-rich water, so look before you swim.
Can dogs swim in Grindstone Lake?
No bloom is detected at Grindstone Lake today, but dogs are much more vulnerable to blue-green algae than people, and blooms can form within hours. Always keep dogs away from water that looks green, scummy, or discolored, and rinse them off after swimming.
How often does Grindstone Lake have blue-green algae blooms?
Over 7 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2020, Grindstone Lake has not shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal. This is an estimate, not a guarantee, and conditions can change quickly, so check the current read and official advisories before you swim.
How many Minnesota lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?
Today, 0 Minnesota waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 451 more warrant caution, out of 1178 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
How is Grindstone Lake's water quality measured?
SwimZone builds this read from EPA CyAN satellite imagery for blue-green algae, official beach and fecal-bacteria advisories where a program monitors Grindstone Lake, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated August 20, 2026.

Before you swim: the basics

Swim spots near Grindstone Lake

All Minnesota

Of the 6 monitored waters nearest Grindstone Lake, 5 are flagged today.

WaterDistanceTodayAlgae readSampled
Lake ElevenLake · Kanabec County3.9 miUse cautionUnconfirmedAug 19
Pine LakeLake · Aitkin County5.5 miNo advisoryNone detectedJul 21
Pomroy LakeLake · Kanabec County11 miUse cautionUnconfirmedAug 19
Knife LakeLake · Kanabec County17 miUse cautionPossible bloomAug 19
Cross LakeLake · Pine County19 miUse cautionPossible bloomAug 19
Pokegama LakeLake · Pine County20 miUse cautionPossible bloomAug 19