Clear Lake
Meeker County, Minnesota529 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Clear Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 18 ft max depth
- Public access
Clear Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 141.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 78.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 529.07 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 6, 2021 caught 2.11 walleye per gill net at Clear Lake. DNR survey details →
Clear Lake is a 529-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet (10-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Meeker County, Clear Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Clear Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 7
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Clear Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Clear 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 Clear Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Clear Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 141.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 78.8 µg/L. TSI 70.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 142µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 78.8µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 70 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Clear Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Clear Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Oct (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (58°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 276 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Clear Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Clear Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was very high (1,499,685 cells/mL) on July 19, 2026.
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 July 6, 2021 caught 2.11 walleye per gill net at Clear Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Clear 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
19 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-09-15 (Targeted Survey).
19 surveys on file · most recent 2023-09-15 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 92.31 | 4–14 in 2021-07-06 | 0.42 lb |
| Bluegill | 41.83 | 3–7 in 2021-07-06 | 0.18 lb |
| Black Crappie | 34.93 | 3–11 in 2021-07-06 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.76 | 5–8 in 2021-07-06 | 0.18 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 8.44 | 1.1 lb | |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.21 | 5–16 in 2021-07-06 | 0.91 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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2023-09-15 survey
A fall nighttime electrofishing survey was conducted on Clear Lake on September 15th, 2023, to evaluate young of the year (YOY) and yearling Walleye abundance. No YOY were sampled. No YOY have been sampled in the nine total fall nighttime surveys. Walleye fry were stocked in 2023. No yearlings were sampled either.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Clear Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ClearFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ClearFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ClearPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
18 ft
Average depth
10 ft
Surface area
529 acres
Shoreline
6.6 mi
Littoral zone
91%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
9 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,122 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Clear Lake (South)Public
- Clear Lake (North)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Clear Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Clear Lake in Meeker 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Clear Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Clear 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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Clear 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
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+8.94 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+8.02 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 7
Earliest Mar 6, 2024 · Latest May 1, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 28
Earliest Nov 14, 2014 · Latest Dec 19, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Mar 6
2024
30 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Clear 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, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN47-0095-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Clear Lake
Where is Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake is a lake in Meeker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 141.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 78.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 529.07 acres.
Is Clear Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Clear Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October, from 276 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet and an average depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 529.07 acres.
What fish are in Clear Lake?
- Fish species found in Clear Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid crappie, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow perch. Clear Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Clear Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 6, 2021 caught 2.11 walleye per gill net at Clear Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Clear 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 Clear Lake thaw?
- Clear Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 235 days.
Does Clear Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Clear Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was very high (1,499,685 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Clear Lake (South), Clear Lake (North). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake has 2 documented boat landings 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 Clear Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
157 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
MNPCA157 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate