Amelia Lake
Amelia Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 69 ft. Surface area: 934.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 69 ft
- Area
- 934 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Pope County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Amelia Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 60 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Amelia Lake is a 934-acre mesotrophic lake in Pope County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 69 feet (21-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Pope County, Amelia Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Amelia Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Amelia Lake in Pope 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.
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Water Temperature
Amelia Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 36 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Amelia Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 69 ft |
| Average Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 934 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 40% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Amelia LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Amelia 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
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 36.27 | — |
| Bluegill | 25.51 | 0.2 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 23.21 | — |
| BKF | 16.90 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.36 | 0.86 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.58 | 0.15 lb |
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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-08-18 survey
Lake Amelia is a 934-acre natural basin located approximately one mile southwest of the City of Villard in Pope County. It is the lowermost basin in a chain of three lakes comprised of Leven, Villard, and Amelia Lakes. Lake Amelia is larger and much deeper than connected basins. Maximum depth is 69 feet and average…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Amelia Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — AmeliaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — AmeliaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — AmeliaPublic 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 | -0.104 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.23 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.82 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Amelia 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 MN61-0064-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 20 lakes in Pope County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Amelia Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Pope County
Frequently asked questions about Amelia Lake
What is the water quality grade for Amelia Lake?
- Amelia Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 69 ft. Surface area: 934.4 acres.
Is Amelia Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Amelia Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Amelia Lake?
- Amelia Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 36 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Amelia Lake?
- Amelia Lake has a maximum depth of 69 feet and an average depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 934.4 acres.
What fish are in Amelia Lake?
- Fish species found in Amelia Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Amelia Lake is located in Pope County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Amelia Lake?
- Amelia Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Amelia Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Amelia Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Pope County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Where this data comes from
97 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA97 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory