Meeker County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 23 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Meeker County's 23 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for Minnesota. The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. The county-wide average grade is D — water quality issues are persistent across most of the monitored basins. 6 lakes fall into the F bracket outright.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Minnie-Belle Lake (A); the most-stressed is Unnamed Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Meeker County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Minnie-Belle Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (60)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Meeker County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WillieFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WashingtonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StellaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Ripley (west portion)Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RichardsonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Minnie-BelleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ManuellaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LongFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little MudFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — JennieFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HopeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Meeker County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnie-Belle Lake | A | 13.5 ft | 49 ft | 14 µg/L |
| 2 | Manuella Lake | B | 10 ft | 51 ft | - |
| 3 | Erie Lake | B | - | 34 ft | 25 µg/L |
| 4 | Long Lake | C | 7.5 ft | 28 ft | 33.5 µg/L |
| 5 | Stella Lake | C | 7.5 ft | 75 ft | - |
| 6 | Francis Lake | C | 6 ft | 17 ft | 25 µg/L |
| 7 | Little Mud Lake | C | 5.9 ft | 42 ft | 27.5 µg/L |
| 8 | Washington Lake | C | 4.5 ft | 17 ft | 32.5 µg/L |
| 9 | Belle Lake | C | 3.9 ft | 25 ft | 42 µg/L |
| 10 | Ripley Lake | C | 4.8 ft | 18 ft | 42.5 µg/L |
| 11 | Spring Lake | C | 3.6 ft | 28 ft | 47 µg/L |
| 12 | Jennie Lake | C | 3.9 ft | 15 ft | 48.5 µg/L |
| 13 | Richardson Lake | D | 5 ft | 47 ft | - |
| 14 | Big Swan Lake | D | 2.5 ft | 32 ft | 84 µg/L |
| 15 | Star Lake | D | 1 ft | 15 ft | 63.5 µg/L |
| 16 | Betty Lake | D | 4.6 ft | 29 ft | 97 µg/L |
| 17 | Willie Lake | D | 2.1 ft | 17 ft | 72 µg/L |
| 18 | Unnamed Lake | F | 0.7 ft | 15 ft | 224 µg/L |
| 19 | Clear Lake | F | 2.5 ft | 18 ft | 140 µg/L |
| 20 | Arvilla Lake | F | 1 ft | 9 ft | 133 µg/L |
| 21 | Hoff Lake | F | 2.6 ft | 8 ft | 111 µg/L |
| 22 | Hope Lake | F | 2 ft | 10 ft | 167 µg/L |
| 23 | Greenleaf Lake | F | 2.8 ft | 18 ft | 91 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.