Bolfing Lake
Stearns County, Minnesota109 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Bolfing Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- zebra mussel
- 36 ft max depth
Bolfing Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 51.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 108.96 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 31, 2024 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at Bolfing Lake. DNR survey details →
Bolfing Lake is a 109-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 36 feet (13-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Bolfing Lake ranks #31 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Bolfing Lake covers about 110 acres in Stearns County. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Bolfing Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Bolfing Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Deep water36 ft surveyed max depth
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. Bolfing Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Bolfing 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 Bolfing Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Bolfing Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 6.3 ft. Phosphorus 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 51.6 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 59µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 51.6µg/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. | 61 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Bolfing Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Bolfing Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 70°F) and coldest in Oct (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (53°F) to its warmest (70°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 113 field readings (2023–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bolfing Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 31, 2024 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at Bolfing Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bolfing Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-31 (Targeted Survey).
8 surveys on file · most recent 2024-07-31 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 25.91 | 7–10 in 2024-07-31 | 0.39 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 15.39 | 18–25 in 2024-07-31 | 2.57 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.30 | 4–17 in 2024-07-31 | 0.72 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 7.45 | 10 in 2024-07-31 | 0.77 lb |
| Bluegill | 6.60 | 4–5 in 2024-07-31 | 0.23 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.16 | 18 in 2024-07-31 | 2.59 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 Crappie
Channel Catfish
Largemouth Bass
Black Bullhead
From the 2024-07-31 survey
The Sauk River Chain of Lakes (SRCL) is located in south-central Stearns County, near the city of Richmond. A dam built in the early 1900's on the Sauk River in Cold Spring created the SRCL a reservoir consisting of nine lakes and approximately 3,200 acres of water. The Sauk River drains a large portion of central…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bolfing Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BolfingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
36 ft
Average depth
12.8 ft
Surface area
109 acres
Shoreline
2.7 mi
Littoral zone
64%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
No
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bolfing Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bolfing Lake in Stearns 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 Bolfing Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Bolfing 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 Bolfing 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+18.25 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+22.2 µg/L/yr3 years
EPA Impairment Status
Bolfing 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: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN73-0088-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Bolfing Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Westland Dairy LlpRichmond · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MN0070912
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.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Bolfing Lake
Where is Bolfing Lake?
- Bolfing Lake is a lake in Stearns County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bolfing Lake?
- Bolfing Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 51.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 108.96 acres.
Is Bolfing Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Bolfing Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bolfing Lake?
- Bolfing Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in October, from 113 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bolfing Lake?
- Bolfing Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet and an average depth of 12.8 feet. The lake covers 108.96 acres.
What fish are in Bolfing Lake?
- Fish species found in Bolfing Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, channel catfish, greater redhorse, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Bolfing Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bolfing Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 31, 2024 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at Bolfing Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bolfing Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at Bolfing Lake?
- Public access to Bolfing Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. 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 Bolfing Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Stearns County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
62 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA62 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder