Alvin Lake
Alvin Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 163 ft. Surface area: 2605.11 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 163 ft
- Area
- 2,605 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
Next lake in Douglas County
Why Alvin Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Alvin Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Alvin Lake is a 2,605-acre lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 163 feet (50-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 21 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Alvin Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Alvin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Alvin Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Alvin Lake
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Water Temperature
Alvin Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 163 ft |
| Average Depth | 50 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,605 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 35% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Alvin Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-20 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 35.04 | — |
| CSH | 34.03 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 18.69 | 0.69 lb |
| Bluegill | 18.02 | 0.14 lb |
| JND | 13.12 | — |
| BKS | 9.45 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2024-08-20 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Lake Carlos was conducted beginning on August 20, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Alvin Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CarlosFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Carlos (1074)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CarlosFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CarlosPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.269 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.73 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.22 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (17 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-12 (2024) | 2013-05-13 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2016-12-17 (2016) | 2016-12-17 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-12
EPA Impairment Status
Alvin Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN21-0080-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.13 km)
Graded lakes near Alvin Lake
Alvin Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Alvin Lake
What is the water quality grade for Alvin Lake?
- Alvin Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 163 ft. Surface area: 2605.11 acres.
Is Alvin Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Alvin Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Alvin Lake?
- Alvin Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 15 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Alvin Lake?
- Alvin Lake has a maximum depth of 163 feet and an average depth of 50 feet. The lake covers 2605.11 acres.
What fish are in Alvin Lake?
- Fish species found in Alvin Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, greater redhorse, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, sunfish, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Alvin Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
When does Alvin Lake thaw?
- Alvin Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21.
Explore Alvin Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
41 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA41 samples · 2022–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate