Crow River Mill Pond
Crow River Mill Pond in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 2290.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 2,290 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Kandiyohi County
Why Crow River Mill Pond has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Crow River Mill Pond, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Crow River Mill Pond is a 2,290-acre 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 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Crow River Mill Pond water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Crow River Mill Pond
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Crow River Mill Pond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crow River 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 River Mill Pond
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 →
Water Temperature
Crow River Mill Pond typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Average Depth | 3.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,290 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 37.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 99% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Middle Fork Crow River, Mill PondPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crow River Mill Pond
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-08 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 25.60 | 0.19 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 13.99 | 0.24 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 11.44 | 0.28 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 8.00 | 0.17 lb |
| Bluegill | 7.69 | 0.21 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.73 | 1.59 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Bass
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 River 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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.164 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.63 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.55 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Crow River 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 (0.18 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Crow River 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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN34-0158-04 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.08 km)
Graded lakes near Crow River Mill Pond
Crow River Mill Pond has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Crow River Mill Pond
What is the water quality grade for Crow River Mill Pond?
- Crow River Mill Pond in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 2290.4 acres.
Is Crow River Mill Pond safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Crow River Mill Pond is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Crow River Mill Pond?
- Crow River Mill Pond typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Crow River Mill Pond?
- Crow River 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 River Mill Pond?
- Fish species found in Crow River 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 River Mill Pond is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Crow River Mill Pond?
- Crow River Mill Pond has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Middle Fork Crow River, Mill Pond. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Crow River Mill Pond across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Crow River Mill Pond
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA9 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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