Barnesville Lake
Barnesville Lake in Clay County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 11.05 acres.
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 11 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Clay County
Barnesville Lake is a 11-acre mesotrophic lake in Clay County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including black bullhead, green sunfish, and white sucker. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Barnesville Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 15 samples across 3 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Minnesota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 16.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Barnesville Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Barnesville Lake in Clay 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 0.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 90% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Barnesville Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-20 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 1.20 | 0.18 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 1.10 | 0.04 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 0.80 | 0.05 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 0.33 | — |
| FND | 0.33 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 0.20 | 0.08 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.
White Sucker
Green Sunfish
Yellow Perch
FND
From the 2023-06-20 survey
A winterkill assessment was conducted on Barnesville Lake in June of 2023. This assessment proved a severe winterkill had taken place as only a handful of fish were captured including Green Sunfish, Yellow Perch, White Sucker and Black Bullhead. As a result, Walleye fry were stocked in late spring and nearly 200 adult…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Barnesville Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BarnesvilleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BarnesvilleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Barnesville Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Barnesville WwtpBarnesville · 1.1 mi away · NPDES MN0022501Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Clay County
Nearby Lakes in Clay County
Frequently asked questions about Barnesville Lake
What is the water quality grade for Barnesville Lake?
- Barnesville Lake in Clay County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 11.05 acres.
Is Barnesville Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Barnesville Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 15 samples across 3 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Barnesville Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Minnesota's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
How deep is Barnesville Lake?
- Barnesville Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 11.05 acres.
What fish are in Barnesville Lake?
- Fish species found in Barnesville Lake include black bullhead, green sunfish, white sucker, yellow perch. Barnesville Lake is located in Clay County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA10 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder