First Fulda Lake
First Fulda Lake in Murray County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 41.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 122.71 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 7 ft
- Area
- 123 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Murray County
First Fulda Lake is a 123-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Murray County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 7 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Murray County, First Fulda Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-01. 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)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 41.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 41.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near First Fulda Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near First Fulda Lake in Murray 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
First Fulda Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Apr (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 41 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full First Fulda Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 123 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fulda First Lake (South)Public
- Fulda Second LakePublic
- Fulda First Lake (Northwest)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing First Fulda Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
First Fulda Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fulda Lake (completed 1923), built primarily for other on the Jack Creek-TR; gravity-type dam, 8 ft tall and 23 ft long.
- Surface area
- 183 ac
- Normal storage
- 885 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,396 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.3 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- County of Murray
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00073 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.32 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of First Fulda Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- FuldaFulda · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MN0023507
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 9 lakes in Murray County
Nearby Lakes in Murray County
Frequently asked questions about First Fulda Lake
What is the water quality grade for First Fulda Lake?
- First Fulda Lake in Murray County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 41.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 122.71 acres.
Is First Fulda Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. First Fulda Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of First Fulda Lake?
- First Fulda Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 41 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is First Fulda Lake?
- First Fulda Lake has a maximum depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 122.71 acres.
What fish are in First Fulda Lake?
- Fish species found in First Fulda Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. First Fulda Lake is located in Murray County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on First Fulda Lake?
- First Fulda Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fulda First Lake (South), Fulda Second Lake, Fulda First Lake (Northwest). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore First Fulda Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA36 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory