Crow R Mill Pond
Kandiyohi County, Minnesota2,290 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Crow R Mill Pond. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 14 ft max depth
- Public access
Crow R Mill Pond in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 2290.4 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 8, 2023 caught 2.75 northern pike per trap net at Crow R Mill Pond. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–30 inches. DNR survey details →
Crow R Mill Pond is a 2,290-acre mesotrophic lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet (4-foot average). Overall water quality is improving 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 24 other monitored lakes in Kandiyohi County, Crow R Mill Pond ranks #8 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 Crow R Mill Pond is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Big water2,290 acres
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. Crow R Mill Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Crow R Mill Pond 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 Crow R Mill Pond
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Crow R Mill Pond, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.7 µg/L. TSI 49.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 21µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 6.7µg/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. | 49 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Crow R Mill Pond
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Crow R Mill Pond typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (65°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 51 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crow R Mill Pond water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 8, 2023 caught 2.75 northern pike per trap net at Crow R Mill Pond. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–30 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Crow R Mill Pond’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: 2023-06-08 (Targeted Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2023-06-08 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 25.60 | 4–11 in 2023-06-08 | 0.19 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 13.99 | 5–10 in 2023-06-08 | 0.24 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 11.44 | 4–9 in 2003-06-16 | 0.28 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 8.00 | 4–7 in 2023-06-08 | 0.17 lb |
| Bluegill | 7.69 | 3–8 in 2018-05-29 | 0.21 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.73 | 9–30 in 2023-06-08 | 1.59 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
Yellow Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Pumpkinseed
From the 2023-06-08 survey
A targeted trapnet survey of Middle Fork Crow Reservoir "MFCR", also known as Monongalia or Mud Lake, was conducted in early June of 2023. The purpose of the survey was to determine the extent of a partial winterkill in February/March of 2023. Four lake survey trapnets were set at standard stations. At least one…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Crow R Mill Pond. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Lake MonongaliaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lake Monongalia (0848)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Lake MonongaliaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lake MonongaliaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
14 ft
Average depth
3.8 ft
Surface area
2,290 acres
Shoreline
37.8 mi
Littoral zone
99%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- Middle Fork Crow River, Joe NeerPublic
- Middle Fork Crow River, County Road 9Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Crow R Mill Pond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crow R Mill Pond in Kandiyohi 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 Crow R Mill Pond
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 Crow R Mill Pond’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crow R Mill Pond
- → Crow R Mill Pond fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Crow R Mill Pond fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Crow R Mill Pond fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Crow R Mill Pond? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-1.63 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.55 µg/L/yr6 years
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Crow R Mill Pond is a man-made reservoir impounded by the New London (completed 1864), built primarily for recreation on the Crow River Middle Fork; earth-type dam, 22 ft tall and 13 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 7,025 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 13,371 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 102 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MNDNR-Fisheries
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00062 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.66 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Crow R Mill Pond 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 MN34-0158-03 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Crow R Mill Pond
Where is Crow R Mill Pond?
- Crow R Mill Pond is a lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Crow R Mill Pond?
- Crow R Mill Pond in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 2290.4 acres.
Is Crow R Mill Pond safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Crow R Mill Pond 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 Crow R Mill Pond?
- Crow R Mill Pond typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, from 51 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Crow R Mill Pond?
- Crow R Mill Pond has a maximum depth of 14 feet and an average depth of 3.8 feet. The lake covers 2290.4 acres.
What fish are in Crow R Mill Pond?
- Fish species found in Crow R Mill Pond include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Crow R Mill Pond is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Crow R Mill Pond?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 8, 2023 caught 2.75 northern pike per trap net at Crow R Mill Pond. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–30 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Crow R Mill Pond’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 Crow R Mill Pond?
- Crow R Mill Pond has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Middle Fork Crow River, Joe Neer, Middle Fork Crow River, County Road 9. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Crow R Mill Pond?
- Crow R Mill Pond 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 Crow R Mill Pond 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 Kandiyohi 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
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Crow R Mill Pond
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Crow R Mill Pond With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
88 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
MNPCA88 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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory