Briggs Lake
Briggs Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 72.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 404.36 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 404 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 2
- Open water
- 246 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Briggs Lake →
Next lake in Sherburne County
Briggs Lake is a 404-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. 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. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Sherburne County, Briggs Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 72.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 29.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 72.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 29.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Briggs Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Briggs Lake in Sherburne 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Briggs Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Briggs Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Briggs Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 222 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Briggs Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Average Depth | 11.7 ft |
| Surface Area | 404 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 42% |
| 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 Briggs Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
18 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-10-03 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 32.01 | 1.43 lb |
| Black Crappie | 21.91 | 0.3 lb |
| JND | 17.54 | — |
| Spottail Shiner | 14.67 | — |
| Bluegill | 14.17 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 13.13 | 0.13 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.
Walleye
Black Crappie
JND
Bluegill
From the 2024-10-03 survey
The Briggs Chain of Lakes is made up of Briggs, Julia and Rush lakes which are connected by a navigable channel. Walleye fry have been stocked into the chain every other year since 1992. Night electrofishing was conducted during the evening of October 3, 2024. A total of nine young of year (YOY) Walleye were collected…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Briggs Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BriggsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BriggsFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BriggsPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.043 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +16.33 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +6.77 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (19 observations).
Estimated open water season: 246 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2013-04-30 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-14 (2014) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-31
EPA Impairment Status
Briggs Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN71-0146-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 18 lakes in Sherburne County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Briggs Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Sherburne County
Frequently asked questions about Briggs Lake
What is the water quality grade for Briggs Lake?
- Briggs Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 72.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 404.36 acres.
Is Briggs Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Briggs Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 29.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Briggs Lake?
- Briggs Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 222 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Briggs Lake?
- Briggs Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet and an average depth of 11.7 feet. The lake covers 404.36 acres.
What fish are in Briggs Lake?
- Fish species found in Briggs Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Briggs Lake is located in Sherburne County, Minnesota.
When does Briggs Lake thaw?
- Briggs Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 2. Ice typically forms around Dec 4. The open water season is approximately 246 days.
Explore Briggs 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 Sherburne County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
114 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA114 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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