Eighth Crow Wing Lake
Eighth Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 502.97 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 503 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 14
- Open water
- 229 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Eighth Crow Wing Lake is a 503-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet (21-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Eighth Crow Wing Lake ranks #65 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 5.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Eighth Crow Wing Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Eighth Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard 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
Eighth Crow Wing Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 36 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Eighth Crow Wing Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Average Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 503 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 30% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Eighth Crow Wing Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 53.24 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 40.73 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 17.79 | 0.73 lb |
| IOD | 16.84 | — |
| BKF | 13.09 | — |
| Pumpkinseed | 13.05 | 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
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed
From the 2023-06-12 survey
Eighth Crow Wing is located two miles east of Nevis in southeastern Hubbard County. Eighth Crow Wing is part of a larger chain of lakes running from Eleventh Crow Wing Lake at the headwaters, down to First Crow Wing Lake. Eighth Crow Wing has a surface area of 503 acres and a maximum depth of 30 feet. A public access…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Eighth Crow Wing Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Eighth Crow WingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Eighth Crow Wing (1272)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Eighth Crow WingFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Eighth Crow WingPublic 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 | +0.233 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.9 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (68 observations).
Estimated open water season: 229 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-25 (2012) | 2013-05-10 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-12 (2002) | 1998-12-10 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-18
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Eighth Crow Wing Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Crow Wing 8th Lake (completed 1938), built primarily for recreation on the Crow Wing River; gravity-type dam, 9 ft tall and 48 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 21,033 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 26,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 39.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00189 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.66 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Eighth Crow Wing 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 MN29-0072-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #65 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Eighth Crow Wing Lake holds Grade C. 2 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 Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Eighth Crow Wing Lake
What is the water quality grade for Eighth Crow Wing Lake?
- Eighth Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 502.97 acres.
Is Eighth Crow Wing Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Eighth Crow Wing Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 13.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Eighth Crow Wing Lake?
- Eighth Crow Wing Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 36 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Eighth Crow Wing Lake?
- Eighth Crow Wing Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet and an average depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 502.97 acres.
What fish are in Eighth Crow Wing Lake?
- Fish species found in Eighth Crow Wing Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Eighth Crow Wing Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Eighth Crow Wing Lake thaw?
- Eighth Crow Wing Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 229 days.
Explore Eighth Crow Wing Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
106 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
MNPCA106 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)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate