Farm Lake
Farm Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 56 ft. Surface area: 1291.92 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 56 ft
- Area
- 1,292 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 28
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in Lake County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Farm Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 55 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Farm Lake is a 1,292-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 56 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Farm Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Farm Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Farm Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Farm Lake in Lake 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
Farm Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 459 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Farm Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 56 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,292 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 20 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Farm LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Farm Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CIS | 9.22 | 0.14 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 8.99 | 0.3 lb |
| Walleye | 3.71 | 1.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.92 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.51 | 0.19 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.25 | 0.43 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.
CIS
Tullibee (Cisco)
Walleye
Bluegill
From the 2023-07-17 survey
Farm Lake is five miles east of Ely, covers 1,292 acres, and is one of three connected water bodies, including South Farm and Garden Lakes, that comprise the Garden Reservoir. This system is also connected to White Iron Lake via the South Kawishiwi River. A public access with a concrete plank boat ramp is on the west…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Farm Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FarmFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Farm (1887)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FarmFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FarmPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.055 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.31 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.1 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (33 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2010-04-01 (2010) | 2013-05-14 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-10 (2017) | 2016-12-09 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-29
EPA Impairment Status
Farm Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0779-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Farm Lake
What is the water quality grade for Farm Lake?
- Farm Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 56 ft. Surface area: 1291.92 acres.
Is Farm Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Farm Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Farm Lake?
- Farm Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 459 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Farm Lake?
- Farm Lake has a maximum depth of 56 feet. The lake covers 1291.92 acres.
What fish are in Farm Lake?
- Fish species found in Farm Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, burbot, cisco species, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Farm Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
When does Farm Lake thaw?
- Farm Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 28. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Are there boat ramps on Farm Lake?
- Farm Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Farm Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Farm 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 Lake County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Farm Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Farm Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
357 measurements from 5 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
MNPCA357 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 (5)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate