Wadena County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 16 lakes, measured by Minnesota PCA
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. 3 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.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the readings sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest measured lake is Spirit Lake.
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Quick Answers for Wadena County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Spirit Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
Fishing in Wadena County
DNR Reports (13)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Wadena County. browse all reports →
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StockingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SpiritFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Lower TwinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lower Twin (1281)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Lower TwinFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lower TwinPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Spirit (1326)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SpiritPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Stocking (1327)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StockingFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StockingPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Yaeger (1248)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — YaegerPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Wadena County
16 lakes · 3 ranked on readings, 13 without enough sampling3 lakes ranked on readings · 13 without enough sampling, hidden
| # | Lake | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Max Depth | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spirit LakeWadena | 15.4 ft | 13 µg/L | 3.6 µg/L | No recent samples | 45 ft | ✓ Public |
| 2 | Lower Twin LakeWadena | 6.9 ft | 35 µg/L | 19.6 µg/L | No recent samples | 26 ft | ✓ Public |
| 3 | Stocking LakeWadena | 7.5 ft | 34 µg/L | 15.6 µg/L | No recent samples | 22 ft | ✓ Public |
| Yaeger LakeWadena | 2.6 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public | |
| Mud LakeWadena | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Jim Cook LakeWadena | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 3.3 ft | Not recorded | |
| Jim Cook LakeWadena | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Finn LakeWadena | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Blueberry LakeWadena | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 15 ft | Not recorded | |
| Bill LakeWadena | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Burgen LakeWadena | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Strike LakeWadena | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Sand LakeWadena | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Radabaugh LakeWadena | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Simon LakeWadena | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Lovejoy LakeWadena | 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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Source: the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR. See data sources.