Polk County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 89 lakes, measured by Minnesota PCA
Polk County in Minnesota carries 89 monitored lakes — one of the lake-richer counties in our dataset. Coverage that dense usually reflects active lake-association sampling alongside state-agency monitoring. 19 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county's readings sit in the middle of the Minnesota range, with one or two lakes pulling the average up or down depending on year.
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. Union Lake has the lowest nutrient and algae readings in the county.
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Quick Answers for Polk County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Union Lake — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
Fishing in Polk County
DNR Reports (40)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Polk County. browse all reports →
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WhitefishFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MoeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TurtleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StoreFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SpringFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SarahFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Sand HillFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PoplarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MapleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Hill RiverFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CrossFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CameronFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CableFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BadgerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Badger (0104)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BadgerFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BadgerPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CableFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Cameron (0103)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CameronFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CameronPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Cross (1958)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CrossFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CrossPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Hill River (1956)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Hill RiverPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MapleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MaplePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PoplarFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sand Hill (0106)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Sand HillPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sarah (1955)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SarahFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SarahPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Spring (1952)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SpringFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SpringPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StoreFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Turtle (1959)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — TurtleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Polk County
89 lakes · 19 ranked on readings, 70 without enough sampling19 lakes ranked on readings · 70 without enough sampling, hidden
| # | Lake | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Max Depth | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union LakePolk | 15 ft | 14 µg/L | 2.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 2 | Poplar LakePolk | 8.9 ft | 23 µg/L | 3.6 µg/L | No recent samples | 23 ft | Carry-in |
| 3 | Perch LakePolk | 10.3 ft | 19.5 µg/L | 3.8 µg/L | No recent samples | 19 ft | Carry-in |
| 4 | Spring LakePolk | 5.6 ft | 22.5 µg/L | 6.2 µg/L | No recent samples | 35 ft | ✓ Public |
| 5 | Cable LakePolk | 10.2 ft | 19 µg/L | 4.9 µg/L | No recent samples | 14 ft | ✓ Public |
| 6 | Badger LakePolk | 6.6 ft | 27 µg/L | 7.5 µg/L | No recent samples | 19 ft | ✓ Public |
| 7 | Sarah LakePolk | 7.7 ft | 29.5 µg/L | 9.5 µg/L | No recent samples | 27 ft | ✓ Public |
| 8 | Kittleson LakePolk | 7.1 ft | 26 µg/L | 7.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Carry-in |
| 9 | Maple LakePolk | 3.3 ft | 38.5 µg/L | 17.8 µg/L | No recent samples | 14 ft | ✓ Public |
| 10 | Sand Hill LakePolk | 6.9 ft | 26 µg/L | 6.8 µg/L | No recent samples | 17 ft | ✓ Public |
| 11 | Whitefish LakePolk | 3.9 ft | 44 µg/L | 28.2 µg/L | No recent samples | 18 ft | ✓ Public |
| 12 | Turtle LakePolk | 3 ft | 58.5 µg/L | 25.4 µg/L | No recent samples | 12 ft | ✓ Public |
| 13 | Cross LakePolk | 3 ft | 52 µg/L | 28.5 µg/L | No recent samples | 19 ft | ✓ Public |
| 14 | Hill River LakePolk | 4.1 ft | 73 µg/L | 29.2 µg/L | No recent samples | 60 ft | ✓ Public |
| 15 | Uff LakePolk | 3.9 ft | 35 µg/L | 20.5 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Carry-in |
| 16 | Unnamed LakePolk | 2 ft | 72 µg/L | 51.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Carry-in |
| 17 | Oak LakePolk | 3 ft | 113 µg/L | 30.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Carry-in |
| 18 | Cameron LakePolk | 1 ft | 130 µg/L | 90.8 µg/L | No recent samples | 9 ft | ✓ Public |
| 19 | Store LakePolk | 6.9 ft | 193 µg/L | 35 µg/L | No recent samples | 19 ft | Carry-in |
| Unnamed LakePolk | 6.9 ft | 95 µg/L | 8.5 µg/L | No recent samples | 12 ft | Carry-in | |
| Halverson LakePolk | 3 ft | 51 µg/L | 16.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Carry-in | |
| Kurass LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Lake ArthurPolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 16.4 ft | Not recorded | |
| Halverson LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Raff LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Crooked LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Maltrud LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 13.1 ft | Not recorded | |
| Matson LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Rindahl LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Tee LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Newton LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Homme LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 6.6 ft | Not recorded | |
| South LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Myhre LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Halvorson LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Perch LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Long LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Lee LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Volden LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Chapek LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Perch LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| North Connection LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| South Connection LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Haslie LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Sand LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Mule John LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public | |
| Cross LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 11 ft | Not recorded | |
| Underberg LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Sawmill LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Vigoren LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Bolme LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Hamre LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Hedlund LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Wold LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Moe LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Schneider LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Sorby LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Breeze LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 27.9 ft | Not recorded | |
| Lark LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Johnson LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Evenmoe LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Berg LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Keller LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Frisk LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Rolf LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Enerson LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Shay LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Twentyeight LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Jeppson LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Hansen LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Overby LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Hedman LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Oppegaard LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Gerdin LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Mitchell LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Squirrel LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Willow Water LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Olson LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Foot LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Engemoen LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 3.3 ft | Not recorded | |
| Bradley LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Leo LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Crystal LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Eighteen LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Bee LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Tamarack LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Maple LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 14 ft | Not recorded | |
| Braaten LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Cable LakePolk | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded |
NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.
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Other Counties in Minnesota
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Source: the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR. See data sources.