Amber Lake
Martin County, Minnesota182 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Amber Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- 19 ft max depth
- Public access
Amber Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 108 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 63.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 182.09 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 22, 2022 caught 2.50 walleye per gill net at Amber Lake. DNR survey details →
Amber Lake is a 182-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Martin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet (11-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Martin County, Amber Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-30. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Amber Lake covers about 180 acres in Martin County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is March 25, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Amber Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Amber Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing17 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 25
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Amber Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for impaired biota (cause unknown), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Amber Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Amber Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Amber Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 108 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 63.2 µg/L. TSI 70.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 108µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 63.2µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 70 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Amber Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Amber Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Apr (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (50°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 107 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Amber Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 22, 2022 caught 2.50 walleye per gill net at Amber Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Amber Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-22 (Standard Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2022-08-22 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 44.04 | 7–11 in 2022-08-22 | 0.36 lb |
| Common Carp | 21.39 | 4–28 in 2022-08-22 | 2.88 lb |
| Black Crappie | 15.03 | 7–12 in 2022-08-22 | 0.3 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 12.24 | 7–15 in 2022-08-22 | 0.43 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.35 | 8–9 in 2022-08-22 | 0.17 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Black Bullhead
Common Carp
Black Crappie
Freshwater Drum
From the 2022-08-22 survey
Amber Lake is a 180 acre lake with a max depth of 19 feet and 108 acres of littoral zone (15 feet or less). Amber Lake is part of the "Fairmont Chain of Lakes" and is within the city limits of Fairmont. The Fairmont Chain of Lakes (from headwaters to mouth) is comprised of Amber Lake, Hall Lake, Budd Lake, Sisseton…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Amber Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — AmberFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — AmberFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — AmberPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
19 ft
Average depth
11 ft
Surface area
182 acres
Shoreline
2.2 mi
Littoral zone
59%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
36 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,155 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Amber LakePublic
- Chain O' Lakes Yacht ClubSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Amber Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Amber Lake in Martin 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Amber Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Amber Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Amber Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-9.13 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable+0.29 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 25
Earliest Feb 29, 2024 · Latest Apr 29, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 13, 2018 · Latest Dec 14, 2017
Most recent ice-out
Mar 10
2026
27 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Amber Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN46-0034-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Martin County
Frequently asked questions about Amber Lake
Where is Amber Lake?
- Amber Lake is a lake in Martin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Amber Lake?
- Amber Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 108 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 63.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 182.09 acres.
Is Amber Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Amber Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for impaired biota (cause unknown), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Amber Lake?
- Amber Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October, from 107 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Amber Lake?
- Amber Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet and an average depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 182.09 acres.
What fish are in Amber Lake?
- Fish species found in Amber Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, largemouth bass, orangespotted sunfish, quillback, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bass, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Amber Lake is located in Martin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Amber Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 22, 2022 caught 2.50 walleye per gill net at Amber Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Amber Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Amber Lake thaw?
- Amber Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 25. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 251 days.
Are there boat ramps on Amber Lake?
- Amber Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Amber Lake, Chain O' Lakes Yacht Club. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Amber Lake?
- Amber Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Amber Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Martin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
120 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA120 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 3 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by fluorometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate