Jackson County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 7 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Only 7 lakes in Jackson County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. On average, Jackson County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Fish Lake (C) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Jackson County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Fish Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (17)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Jackson County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RoundFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PearlFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LoonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little SpiritFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ClearFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ClearFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ClearPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Fish (Main Lake)Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HeronPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little SpiritFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little SpiritPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LoonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Jackson County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fish Lake | C | 4.5 ft | - | 35 µg/L |
| 2 | Heron Lake | C | 1 ft | - | 27 µg/L |
| 3 | Little Spirit Lake | D | 3.3 ft | 8 ft | 168 µg/L |
| 4 | Round Lake | D | 2 ft | 9 ft | 77 µg/L |
| 5 | Clear Lake | D | 1.5 ft | 9 ft | 76 µg/L |
| 6 | Loon Lake | F | 0.9 ft | 8 ft | 274 µg/L |
| 7 | Pearl Lake | F | 1 ft | 6 ft | 152 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.