Fawn Lake
Fawn Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 46.35 acres.
- Clarity
- 20 ft
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 46 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cass County
Why Fawn Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Fawn Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Fawn Lake is a 46-acre lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Fawn Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Fawn Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 20 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Fawn Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fawn Lake in Cass 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 Fawn Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 46 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 53% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sanborn LakePublic
Fishing Fawn Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1967-07-19 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 91.17 | 0.13 lb |
| Rock Bass | 8.84 | 0.23 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.83 | 0.2 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.33 | 1.13 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.67 | 0.93 lb |
| Walleye | 0.58 | 3.1 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1967-07-19 survey
DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY:FAWN LAKE HAS NO INLETS OR OUTLETS. SHOAL WATER SOILS ARE 45% SAND, 45% GRAVEL AND 10% MUCK. SEVERAL EMERGENT AND SUBMERGED AQUATIC PLANTS WERE FOUND; MOST OF THE AQUATIC PLANTS HAD A SPARSE OR SCATTERED DENSITY RATING, EXCEPT FOR MUSKGRASS AND BUSHY PONDWEED.TESTNETTING INDICATED A GOOD FISH…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fawn Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FawnFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.042 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.8 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Fawn 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 MN11-0308-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.37 km)
Graded lakes near Fawn Lake
Fawn Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Fawn Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fawn Lake?
- Fawn Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 46.35 acres.
Is Fawn Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Fawn Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Fawn Lake?
- Fawn Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 46.35 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Fawn Lake?
- Fawn Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sanborn Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
15 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
MNPCA15 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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