Carrie Lake
Kandiyohi County, Minnesota89 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Carrie Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 26 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Carrie Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 21, 2021 caught 20.50 walleye per gill net at Carrie Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–23 inches. DNR survey details →
Carrie Lake is a 89-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Carrie Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 2
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Carrie Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Carrie 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 Carrie Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Carrie 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 4.5 ft. Phosphorus 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 17.3 µg/L. TSI 55.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 23.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 17.3µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 55 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Carrie Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Carrie Lake typically sits around 55°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (45°F) to its warmest (74°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 21, 2021 caught 20.50 walleye per gill net at Carrie Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–23 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Carrie Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-21 (Standard Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2021-06-21 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 52.58 | ||
| Bluegill | 48.53 | 3–7 in 2021-06-21 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 22.00 | 13 in 2021-06-21 | 0.54 lb |
| Walleye | 18.55 | 5–23 in 2021-06-21 | 1.8 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 15.65 | 11 in 2006-06-21 | 0.34 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.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
26 ft
Surface area
89 acres
Shoreline
1.9 mi
Littoral zone
23%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,119 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Carrie LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Carrie 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 →
Follow Carrie Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Carrie Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2020–2023).
Water clarity
Worsening4 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 2
Earliest Mar 8, 2000 · Latest Apr 30, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 28
Earliest Nov 4, 2003 · Latest Dec 18, 1998
Most recent ice-out
Mar 22
2025
47 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN34-0032-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Carrie Lake
Where is Carrie Lake?
- Carrie Lake is a lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Carrie Lake?
- Carrie Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Carrie Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Carrie Lake?
- Carrie Lake typically sits around 55°F at the surface in October, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Carrie Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 21, 2021 caught 20.50 walleye per gill net at Carrie Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–23 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Carrie Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Carrie Lake?
- Carrie Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 Carrie Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Kandiyohi County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Carrie Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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)
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
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