Elkhorn Lake
Kandiyohi County, Minnesota79 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Elkhorn Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 41 ft max depth
- Public access
Elkhorn Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 41 ft. Surface area: 78.99 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 26, 2023 caught 0.33 walleye per trap net at Elkhorn Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–26 inches. DNR survey details →
Elkhorn Lake is a 79-acre mesotrophic lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 41 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 24 other monitored lakes in Kandiyohi County, Elkhorn Lake ranks #7 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 Elkhorn Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Deep water41 ft surveyed max depth
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Elkhorn 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 Elkhorn Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Elkhorn Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.6 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 16µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.6µg/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. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Elkhorn Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Elkhorn Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 76°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 (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Elkhorn Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 26, 2023 caught 0.33 walleye per trap net at Elkhorn Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–26 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Elkhorn Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-26 (Standard Survey).
10 surveys on file · most recent 2023-06-26 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 53.76 | 4–15 in 2023-06-26 | 1.11 lb |
| Bluegill | 50.43 | 2–9 in 2023-06-26 | 0.12 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.19 | 6 in 2018-06-25 | 0.09 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 6.74 | 3–8 in 2023-06-26 | 0.14 lb |
| Walleye | 4.99 | 9–26 in 2023-06-26 | 2.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 4.74 | 9–13 in 2023-06-26 | 0.65 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2023-06-26 survey
A standard survey of Elkhorn Lake was conducted in late-June of 2023. Survey methodology and gears used to sample the Elkhorn fish population included six standard trapnets, two large frame trapnets and June night boat electrofishing. Gillnets are an optional survey gear for lakes under 100 acres. Gillnets were not…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Elkhorn Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ElkhornFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ElkhornFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ElkhornPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
41 ft
Surface area
79 acres
Shoreline
1.7 mi
Littoral zone
38%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,161 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Elkhorn LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Elkhorn Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elkhorn 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 Elkhorn Lake
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 Elkhorn Lake’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 Elkhorn Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.84 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+1.59 µg/L/yr6 years
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Elkhorn Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Elkhorn Lake Rearing Pond (completed 1969), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Crow River Middle Fork; earth-type dam, 13 ft tall and 170 ft long.
- Surface area
- 72 ac
- Normal storage
- 640 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- County of Kandiyohi
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00498 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.84 km)
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Elkhorn Lake
Where is Elkhorn Lake?
- Elkhorn Lake 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 Elkhorn Lake?
- Elkhorn Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 41 ft. Surface area: 78.99 acres.
Is Elkhorn Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Elkhorn Lake?
- Elkhorn Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in September, from 51 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Elkhorn Lake?
- Elkhorn Lake has a maximum depth of 41 feet. The lake covers 78.99 acres.
What fish are in Elkhorn Lake?
- Fish species found in Elkhorn Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, shortnose gar, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Elkhorn Lake is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Elkhorn Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 26, 2023 caught 0.33 walleye per trap net at Elkhorn Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–26 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Elkhorn Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Elkhorn Lake?
- Elkhorn Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Elkhorn Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Elkhorn Lake?
- Elkhorn Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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 Elkhorn Lake across LakeQuality
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 Elkhorn Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
119 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA119 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 (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory