Charlotte Lake
Wright County, Minnesota253 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Charlotte Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 46 ft max depth
- Public access
Charlotte Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 17.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 252.52 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 30, 2025 caught 1.22 northern pike per trap net at Charlotte Lake. DNR survey details →
Charlotte Lake is a 253-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Wright County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 46 feet (22-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available. Compared to the 50 other monitored lakes in Wright County, Charlotte Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Charlotte Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water17.1 ft of visibility
- Fishing10 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 7
- Deep water46 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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. Charlotte Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Charlotte 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 Charlotte Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Charlotte Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 17.1 ft down. Phosphorus 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.7 µg/L. TSI 39.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 17.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 13µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.7µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 39 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Charlotte Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Charlotte Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (61°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Charlotte Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Charlotte Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (29,648 cells/mL) on November 22, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 30, 2025 caught 1.22 northern pike per trap net at Charlotte Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Charlotte Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-30 (Targeted Survey).
10 surveys on file · most recent 2025-06-30 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 32.57 | 2–7 in 2025-06-30 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 26.40 | ||
| Spottail Shiner | 9.80 | ||
| Black Bullhead | 9.25 | 9–11 in 1995-07-17 | 0.4 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
From the 2025-06-30 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Charlotte Lake was conducted on June 30 - July 3, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Charlotte Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CharlotteFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Charlotte (1941)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Charlotte (2002)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CharlottePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
46 ft
Average depth
22.2 ft
Surface area
253 acres
Shoreline
3.9 mi
Littoral zone
37%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
945 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Charlotte Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Charlotte Lake in Wright 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 Charlotte Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Charlotte Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Charlotte 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+7.19 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+4.52 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 7
Earliest Mar 12, 2024 · Latest May 3, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 11
Earliest Nov 25, 2008 · Latest Jan 11, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Mar 12
2024
25 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Charlotte Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN86-0011-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Wright County
Frequently asked questions about Charlotte Lake
Where is Charlotte Lake?
- Charlotte Lake is a lake in Wright County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Charlotte Lake?
- Charlotte Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 17.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 252.52 acres.
Is Charlotte Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Charlotte Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Charlotte Lake?
- Charlotte Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, from 24 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Charlotte Lake?
- Charlotte Lake has a maximum depth of 46 feet and an average depth of 22.2 feet. The lake covers 252.52 acres.
What fish are in Charlotte Lake?
- Fish species found in Charlotte Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Charlotte Lake is located in Wright County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Charlotte Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 30, 2025 caught 1.22 northern pike per trap net at Charlotte Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Charlotte Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Charlotte Lake thaw?
- Charlotte Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Dec 11. The open water season is approximately 248 days.
Does Charlotte Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Charlotte Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (29,648 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Can I fish at Charlotte Lake?
- Public access to Charlotte Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Charlotte Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Wright 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
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State Parks Near Charlotte Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
84 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA84 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate