Elizabeth Lake
Elizabeth Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 111 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 1023.47 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Max depth
- 9 ft
- Area
- 1,023 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Kandiyohi County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Elizabeth Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 8 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Why Elizabeth Lake 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 Elizabeth Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, 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.
Elizabeth Lake is a 1,023-acre lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-06-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Elizabeth Lake 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 Elizabeth Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 111 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 37 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 111 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 37 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Elizabeth Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elizabeth Lake 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 Elizabeth Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,023 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Ella LakePublic
- Elizabeth LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Elizabeth Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-27 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 85.47 | 0.18 lb |
| Walleye | 41.81 | 1.95 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 26.51 | 0.47 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 24.71 | 0.07 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 15.80 | 1.1 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.12 | 0.16 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
Walleye
Black Bullhead
Green Sunfish
From the 2024-08-27 survey
A targeted fall daytime electrofishing survey was conducted on Lake Elizabeth during August 27, 2024 to evaluate young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye numbers due to fry stocking/natural reproduction. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Elizabeth Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Elizabeth (Main Lake)Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Elizabeth (Main Lake)Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Elizabeth (Main Lake)Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Elizabeth Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN34-0022-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.23 km)
Graded lakes near Elizabeth Lake
Elizabeth Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Elizabeth Lake
What is the water quality grade for Elizabeth Lake?
- Elizabeth Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 111 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 1023.47 acres.
Is Elizabeth Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Elizabeth Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 37 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Elizabeth Lake?
- Elizabeth Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 1023.47 acres.
What fish are in Elizabeth Lake?
- Fish species found in Elizabeth Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, pumpkinseed, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Elizabeth Lake is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Elizabeth Lake?
- Elizabeth Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ella Lake, Elizabeth Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Elizabeth Lake 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 Elizabeth Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA4 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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