Brooks Lake
Wright County, MinnesotaEutrophic
The LakeGrade rubric puts Brooks Lake at a C: clarity at 5.6 ft, 32 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 53 signal an intermediate trophic state. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. A maximum depth of 21 ft puts Brooks Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. Brooks Lake covers 100 acres alongside 1.7 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Among the 64 graded lakes in Wright County, Brooks Lake sits at rank 28, above the county median.
Brooks Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Walleye are documented at Brooks Lake, one of 6 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 32 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 32 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Average Depth | 11.4 ft |
| Surface Area | 100.19 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 58% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Brooks Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Brooks Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Brooks Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.053 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.05 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 64 lakes in Wright County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Brooks Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CLong LakeMeeker County · mi · Higher overall water quality score
- CMud LakeWright County · mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Wright County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Brooks Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 415.38 | 0.35 lb |
| Bluegill | 33.54 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 24.34 | 1.26 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.21 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.96 | 4.05 lb |
| GOS | 1.67 | 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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2021-06-14 survey
Brooks Lake is a 96-acre lake located in southwestern Wright County near the City of Cokato. The lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet with a summer water clarity of over five feet. There is a city administered public boat access as well as a fishing pier located within Veterans Memorial Park on the east side of the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Brooks Lake. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BrooksFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BrooksPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Brooks 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 MN86-0264-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2024-09-23
Monitoring stations: 1