Clear Lake
Waseca County, Minnesota649 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Clear Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 34 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Clear Lake in Waseca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 151 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 59.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 648.77 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 4.12 walleye per gill net at Clear Lake. DNR survey details →
Clear Lake is a 649-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Waseca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Waseca County, Clear Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-28. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Clear Lake covers about 650 acres in Waseca County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is April 2, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Clear Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Clear Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing12 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 2
- Deep water34 ft surveyed max depth
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 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 151 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 59.3 µg/L. TSI 70.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 151µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 59.3µg/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 71°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 93 field readings (2022–2025) 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 high (319,154 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 Standard Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 4.12 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 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
24 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-05 (Standard Survey).
24 surveys on file · most recent 2024-08-05 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 61.24 | 4–11 in 2024-08-05 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 49.45 | 6–15 in 2024-08-05 | 0.95 lb |
| Bluegill | 41.77 | 4–8 in 2024-08-05 | 0.2 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 23.97 | 5–20 in 2024-08-05 | 1.63 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.91 | 6–7 in 2024-08-05 | 0.18 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 5.59 | 1.27 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 Crappie
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-08-05 survey
Clear Lake is a 652-acre lake located within the town of Waseca in Waseca County. Two DNR-maintained public accesses are available. One is located off Clear Lake Drive on the north side and the other just off MN Highway 14 on the southeast side of the lake. The maximum depth is 34 feet with approximately 69% of the…
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
34 ft
Surface area
649 acres
Shoreline
4.4 mi
Littoral zone
69%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
15 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,112 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 Waseca 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 5 years of monitoring (2021–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 2
Earliest Mar 1, 2024 · Latest Apr 29, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 20, 2022 · Latest Dec 7, 2017
Most recent ice-out
Mar 22
2026
140 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Clear Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Clear Lake (completed 1937), built primarily for recreation on the Crane Creek-TR; concrete-type dam, 8 ft tall and 18 ft long.
- Surface area
- 611 ac
- Normal storage
- 6,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 7,900 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 38 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- County of Waseca
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN01455 · Operator website
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 MN81-0014-01 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Waseca County
Frequently asked questions about Clear Lake
Where is Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake is a lake in Waseca 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 Waseca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 151 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 59.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 648.77 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 71°F at the surface in September, from 93 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 648.77 acres.
What fish are in Clear Lake?
- Fish species found in Clear Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Clear Lake is located in Waseca County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Clear Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 4.12 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 5 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 2. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 243 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 high (319,154 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
109 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA109 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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