Emily Lake
Pope County, MinnesotaEutrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric Emily Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 68 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. At only 6 ft deep, Emily Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. With 2,316 acres of surface and 12.0 miles of shoreline, Emily Lake is a large water by Minnesota standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Within the 25 graded lakes of Pope County, Emily Lake sits at rank 23, near the bottom of the county list.
Zebra mussels have been documented at Emily Lake, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. Walleye are documented at Emily Lake, one of 26 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 90 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 90 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 6 ft |
| Average Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 2.3K acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Emily Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Emily Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Emily Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.09 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.9 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #23 of 25 lakes in Pope County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Emily Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ASignalness LakePope County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- CNelson LakePope County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DHassel LakeSwift County · mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Pope County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Emily Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Emily Lake With Nearby Lakes
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-02 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 32.18 | — |
| BKF | 12.45 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.89 | 1.59 lb |
| EMS | 8.15 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 7.39 | 1 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 7.07 | — |
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
From the 2025-06-02 survey
Lake Emily is a shallow 2,377-acre, highly-productive basin located in southwestern Pope County with a maximum depth of 6 feet. Despite being shallow, winterkill events have been rare. Groundwater exchange, springs, and combined stream flows from the Little Chippewa River and Lake Minnewaska help sustain adequate…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Emily Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — EmilyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — EmilyFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — EmilyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Emily 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 MN61-0180-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2024-09-16
Monitoring stations: 2