Erie Lake
Erie Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 189.55 acres.
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 190 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Meeker County
Erie Lake is a 190-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Meeker County, Erie Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-18. 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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 14.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Erie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Erie Lake in Meeker 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.
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Water Temperature
Erie Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 65°F) and coldest in Aug (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2018–2018) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Erie Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 190 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 43% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake EriePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Erie 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
20 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-03-26 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 60.12 | — |
| IOD | 49.97 | — |
| Bluegill | 46.15 | 0.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 16.78 | 0.85 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 11.92 | 0.07 lb |
| BKF | 10.76 | — |
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
Largemouth Bass
Green Sunfish
BKF
From the 2025-03-26 survey
Erie is a small lake (189 acres) located south of the Town of Darwin. A small sized state-owned access, with a single cement boat ramp, is present on the south shore. Erie has three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of thirty-four feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Erie Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ErieFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ErieFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — EriePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Erie 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 MN47-0064-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 19 lakes in Meeker County
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Erie Lake
What is the water quality grade for Erie Lake?
- Erie Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 189.55 acres.
Is Erie Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Erie Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 14.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Erie Lake?
- Erie Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2018). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Erie Lake?
- Erie Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 189.55 acres.
What fish are in Erie Lake?
- Fish species found in Erie Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Erie Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Erie Lake?
- Erie Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Erie. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Erie Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
8 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
MNPCA8 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory