Lincoln County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 5 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Only 5 lakes in Lincoln 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, Lincoln 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. Perch Lake (C) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Lincoln County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Perch Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (13)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Lincoln County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StayFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShaokotanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PerchFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HendricksFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HawksnestFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HendricksFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HendricksPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PerchFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PerchPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ShaokotanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ShaokotanPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StayFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Lincoln County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perch Lake | C | 9.3 ft | 16.2 ft | 56 µg/L |
| 2 | Hendricks Lake | D | 6.2 ft | 9 ft | - |
| 3 | Shaokotan Lake | D | 3 ft | 10 ft | 51.5 µg/L |
| 4 | Hawksnest Lake | D | 6.6 ft | 7.3 ft | 213 µg/L |
| 5 | Stay Lake | F | 1 ft | 6 ft | 171.5 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.