Eighth Crow Wing Lake
Hubbard County, Minnesota503 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Eighth Crow Wing Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 30 ft max depth
- Public access
Eighth Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 12, 2023 caught 3.22 walleye per gill net at Eighth Crow Wing Lake. DNR survey details →
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). 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Eighth Crow Wing Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 14
- Deep water30 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Eighth Crow Wing Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Eighth Crow Wing 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 Eighth Crow Wing Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Eighth Crow Wing Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5.7 ft. Phosphorus 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 13.8 µg/L. TSI 53.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5.7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 24µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 13.8µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 53 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Eighth Crow Wing Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Eighth Crow Wing Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (75°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 12, 2023 caught 3.22 walleye per gill net at Eighth Crow Wing Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Eighth Crow Wing 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
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-12 (Standard Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2023-06-12 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 53.24 | 3–9 in 2023-06-12 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 40.73 | 5–9 in 2023-06-12 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 17.79 | 5–19 in 2023-06-12 | 0.73 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 13.05 | 3–7 in 2023-06-12 | 0.22 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.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
30 ft
Average depth
21 ft
Surface area
503 acres
Shoreline
4.9 mi
Littoral zone
30%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
38 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,378 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
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Stays near Eighth Crow Wing Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Eighth Crow Wing Lake
- → Eighth Crow Wing Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Eighth Crow Wing Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Eighth Crow Wing Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Eighth Crow Wing Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-3.9 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-2.43 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 14
Earliest Mar 25, 2012 · Latest May 10, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 29
Earliest Nov 12, 2002 · Latest Dec 10, 1998
Most recent ice-out
Apr 18
2025
68 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN29-0072-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Eighth Crow Wing Lake
Where is Eighth Crow Wing Lake?
- Eighth Crow Wing Lake is a lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Eighth Crow Wing Lake?
- Eighth Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Eighth Crow Wing Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Eighth Crow Wing Lake?
- Eighth Crow Wing Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Eighth Crow Wing Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 12, 2023 caught 3.22 walleye per gill net at Eighth Crow Wing Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Eighth Crow Wing 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.
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.
Can I fish at Eighth Crow Wing Lake?
- Public access to Eighth Crow Wing Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Eighth Crow Wing Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate