Sherburne County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 24 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
There are 24 graded lakes in Sherburne County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. The county average is C — the middle of the rubric, 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. Big Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Sherburne County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Big Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (49)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Sherburne County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — West HunterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RoundFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ThompsonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SandyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RushFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PickerelFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MitchellFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OronoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — JuliaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FremontFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ElkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ElkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Sherburne County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Lake | A | 17.5 ft | 48 ft | - |
| 2 | East Hunter Lake | A | 22.1 ft | 7 ft | 26 µg/L |
| 3 | Big Lake | A | 13.5 ft | 48 ft | 10.5 µg/L |
| 4 | Mitchell Lake | A | 10 ft | 33 ft | 14.5 µg/L |
| 5 | Sandy Lake | A | 14.1 ft | 41 ft | 12.5 µg/L |
| 6 | Ann Lake | A | 11.6 ft | 26 ft | 15.5 µg/L |
| 7 | Unnamed Lake | B | 13.5 ft | 43 ft | 23 µg/L |
| 8 | Thompson Lake | B | 10 ft | 22 ft | - |
| 9 | Pickerel Lake | B | 10 ft | 21 ft | 24 µg/L |
| 10 | Camp Lake | B | 10.5 ft | 34 ft | - |
| 11 | Cantlin Lake | B | 10 ft | - | - |
| 12 | Lake Mitchell | B | 10.5 ft | 33 ft | - |
| 13 | West Hunter Lake | B | 17.2 ft | 6 ft | 30 µg/L |
| 14 | Birch Lake | C | 5.8 ft | 18 ft | 21 µg/L |
| 15 | Unnamed Lake | C | 5.2 ft | - | 34 µg/L |
| 16 | Eagle Lake | D | 3 ft | 18 ft | 61.5 µg/L |
| 17 | Fremont Lake | D | 3 ft | 8 ft | 63.5 µg/L |
| 18 | Elk Lake | D | 2.5 ft | 15 ft | 74 µg/L |
| 19 | Briggs Lake | D | 3 ft | 25 ft | 75 µg/L |
| 20 | Julia Lake | D | 2 ft | 15 ft | 80 µg/L |
| 21 | Upper Orono Lake | F | 3 ft | - | 130.5 µg/L |
| 22 | Elk Lake | F | 2 ft | 9 ft | 100 µg/L |
| 23 | Rush Lake | F | 2 ft | 11 ft | 115 µg/L |
| 24 | Lower Orono Lake | F | 2.3 ft | 18 ft | 156 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.