Carnelian Lake
Carnelian Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 179.91 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 180 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Stearns County
Why Carnelian Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Carnelian Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Carnelian Lake is a 180-acre lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 36 feet (14-foot average). The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Carnelian Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Carnelian Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Carnelian 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Carnelian Lake
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Water Temperature
Carnelian Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 143 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Carnelian Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Average Depth | 13.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 180 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 35% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Carnelian LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Carnelian 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-05-06 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 91.39 | 0.19 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 26.89 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 20.46 | 0.76 lb |
| BCS | 18.73 | — |
| BKF | 18.04 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 10.86 | 0.1 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
Bluntnose Minnow
Largemouth Bass
BKF
From the 2024-05-06 survey
A targeted Bluegill and Black Crappie assessment was conducted on Carnelian Lake from May 6-10, 2024. This assessment was conducted to update data last collected in a 2016 survey and to get an idea of the size structure of the spawning Bluegills and Black Crappie. Carnelian Lake has had special regulations restricting…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Carnelian Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CarnelianFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CarnelianFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CarnelianPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.067 m/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Carnelian Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN73-0038-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Carnelian Lake
Carnelian Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Carnelian Lake
What is the water quality grade for Carnelian Lake?
- Carnelian Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 179.91 acres.
Is Carnelian Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Carnelian Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Carnelian Lake?
- Carnelian Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 143 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Carnelian Lake?
- Carnelian Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet and an average depth of 13.8 feet. The lake covers 179.91 acres.
What fish are in Carnelian Lake?
- Fish species found in Carnelian Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Carnelian Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Carnelian Lake?
- Carnelian Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Carnelian Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Carnelian Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
128 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA128 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory