Cross Lake
Polk County, Minnesota320 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Cross Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 19 ft max depth
- Public access
Cross Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 319.8 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 13, 2022 caught 1.75 walleye per gill net at Cross Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–19 inches. DNR survey details →
Cross Lake is a 320-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet (12-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Cross Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-15. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Cross Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing9 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyAlgae risk
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Cross 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 Cross Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Cross 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 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 28.5 µg/L. TSI 62.
| 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 | 52µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 28.5µg/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. | 62 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Cross Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Cross Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (62°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cross Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 13, 2022 caught 1.75 walleye per gill net at Cross Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Cross Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 283.13 | 4–11 in 2022-06-13 | 0.3 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 15.66 | 5–10 in 2022-06-13 | 0.59 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.70 | 5–8 in 2022-06-13 | 0.34 lb |
| Walleye | 6.80 | 9–19 in 2022-06-13 | 2.44 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.86 | 19–40 in 2022-06-13 | 2.22 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.25 | 3–9 in 2022-06-13 | 0.36 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
Brown Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Walleye
From the 2022-06-13 survey
Cross Lake is a lightly developed, 320-acre, class-35, lake located in southeastern Polk County with a history of winterkill. The most recent severe winterkill occurred in 1991, when virtually all fish species except bullhead were extirpated from the lake. However, a moderate winterkill also occurred in the winter of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Cross Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CrossFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Cross (1958)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CrossFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CrossPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
19 ft
Average depth
12 ft
Surface area
320 acres
Shoreline
6.5 mi
Littoral zone
95%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
17 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,296 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Cross 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 Cross Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cross Lake in Polk 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 Cross Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Cross 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 Cross Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cross Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.4 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-2.17 µg/L/yr6 years
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Cross Lake
Where is Cross Lake?
- Cross Lake is a lake in Polk County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Cross Lake?
- Cross Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 319.8 acres.
Is Cross Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Cross Lake?
- Cross Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Cross Lake?
- Cross Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 319.8 acres.
What fish are in Cross Lake?
- Fish species found in Cross Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Cross Lake is located in Polk County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Cross Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 13, 2022 caught 1.75 walleye per gill net at Cross Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–19 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Cross Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Cross Lake?
- Cross Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cross Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Cross Lake?
- Cross 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 Cross 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 Polk County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
85 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
MNPCA85 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory