Carrie Lake
Carrie Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 17.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 89.37 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 89 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 2
- Open water
- 240 days
Next lake in Kandiyohi County
Carrie Lake is a 89-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 24 other monitored lakes in Kandiyohi County, Carrie Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-10-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Carrie Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Swim with caution, moderate algae may be present
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 17.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 17.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Carrie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Carrie Lake in Kandiyohi 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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Water Temperature
Carrie Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 74°F) and coldest in Apr (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 345 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Carrie Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 89 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 23% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Carrie LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Carrie Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 52.58 | — |
| Bluegill | 48.53 | 0.13 lb |
| IOD | 22.50 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 22.00 | 0.54 lb |
| Walleye | 18.55 | 1.8 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 15.65 | 0.34 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
Black Bullhead
Walleye
Brown Bullhead
From the 2021-06-21 survey
Carrie Lake is part of a statewide, long-term monitoring program (SLICE) to document effects of climate change and other stressors on 25 lakes. Temperature dataloggers are retrieved, downloaded and redeployed in the deepest portion of lake during early winter each year on Carrie Lake as part of SLICE program. The data…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Carrie Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CarrieFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CarrieFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CarriePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.077 m/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (47 observations).
Estimated open water season: 240 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-08 (2000) | 2013-04-30 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-04 (2003) | 1998-12-18 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-22
EPA Impairment Status
Carrie 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 MN34-0032-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 25 lakes in Kandiyohi County
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Carrie Lake
What is the water quality grade for Carrie Lake?
- Carrie Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 17.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 89.37 acres.
Is Carrie Lake safe to swim in?
- Swim with caution, moderate algae may be present. Carrie Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 17.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Carrie Lake?
- Carrie Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 345 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Carrie Lake?
- Carrie Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 89.37 acres.
What fish are in Carrie Lake?
- Fish species found in Carrie Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Carrie Lake is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
When does Carrie Lake thaw?
- Carrie Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 2. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 240 days.
Are there boat ramps on Carrie Lake?
- Carrie Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Carrie Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Carrie Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
56 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA56 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate