Elms Lake
Elms Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 51.6 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 52 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 6
- Open water
- 241 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Elms Lake →
Next lake in Isanti County
Elms Lake is a 52-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Isanti County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Isanti County, Elms Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 51.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 51.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Elms Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elms Lake in Isanti 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Elms Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Elms 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 →
Water Temperature
Elms Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 49 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Elms Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 83% |
| Public Access | No |
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 Elms Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2003-06-16 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 24.66 | 1.65 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 23.97 | 0.09 lb |
| Bluegill | 16.62 | 0.2 lb |
| Walleye | 3.70 | 1.02 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 3.15 | 0.17 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 2.32 | 0.25 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.
Largemouth Bass
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Walleye
From the 2003-06-16 survey
Elms lake is a small, shallow lake located a mile south of Cambridge in central Isanti county. Public access can be gained from Florence lake through a short, navigable channel. Both lakes are subject to winterkill due in part to dense growths of aquatic vegetation. Gamefish are typically stocked into Florence lake…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Elms Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ElmsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Elms (1842)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.161 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (26 observations).
Estimated open water season: 241 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-04 (2024) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-10 (2018) | 2023-12-29 (2023) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-27
EPA Impairment Status
Elms 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 MN30-0043-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.8 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 17 lakes in Isanti County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Elms Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Isanti County
Frequently asked questions about Elms Lake
What is the water quality grade for Elms Lake?
- Elms Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 51.6 acres.
Is Elms Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Elms Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Elms Lake?
- Elms Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 49 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Elms Lake?
- Elms Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 51.6 acres.
What fish are in Elms Lake?
- Fish species found in Elms Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Elms Lake is located in Isanti County, Minnesota.
When does Elms Lake thaw?
- Elms Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 6. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 241 days.
Explore Elms Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
172 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
MNPCA172 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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