Crookneck Lake
Crookneck Lake in Morrison County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 191.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 191 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Morrison County
Crookneck Lake is a 191-acre mesotrophic lake in Morrison County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 22 feet (9-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 7 other monitored lakes in Morrison County, Crookneck Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.2 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Crookneck Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crookneck Lake in Morrison 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
Crookneck Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 37 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crookneck Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Average Depth | 8.9 ft |
| Surface Area | 191 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 69% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Crookneck LakePublic
- Shamineau Lake (Northwest)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crookneck 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-24 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 95.15 | 0.09 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 17.22 | 0.13 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.72 | 1.41 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 10.67 | 0.7 lb |
| Northern Pike | 7.53 | 2.1 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.62 | 0.22 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
Pumpkinseed
Largemouth Bass
Brown Bullhead
From the 2023-07-24 survey
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in Crookneck Lake was conducted by Fisheries Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff from 24-25 July 2023. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-foot or 50-foot seine, where…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Crookneck Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CrookneckFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Crookneck (1915)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CrookneckPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.085 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.86 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.2 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Crookneck 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 MN49-0127-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.38 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 8 lakes in Morrison County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Crookneck Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Morrison County
Frequently asked questions about Crookneck Lake
What is the water quality grade for Crookneck Lake?
- Crookneck Lake in Morrison County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 191.2 acres.
Is Crookneck Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Crookneck Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Crookneck Lake?
- Crookneck Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 37 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Crookneck Lake?
- Crookneck Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet and an average depth of 8.9 feet. The lake covers 191.2 acres.
What fish are in Crookneck Lake?
- Fish species found in Crookneck Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Crookneck Lake is located in Morrison County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Crookneck Lake?
- Crookneck Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Crookneck Lake, Shamineau Lake (Northwest). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Crookneck Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
179 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA179 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 (2)
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