First Lake
First Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 69.14 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 61°F
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 69 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Clearwater County
First Lake is a 69-acre mesotrophic lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 36 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Clearwater County, First Lake ranks #34 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near First Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near First Lake in Clearwater 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 Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 61°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 93 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full First Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Surface Area | 69 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 27% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- First LakePublic
Fishing First Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1987-06-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Bullhead | 245.75 | 0.23 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 134.63 | 0.11 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 33.69 | 0.07 lb |
| White Sucker | 6.94 | 1.65 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.88 | 2.25 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.83 | 0.26 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1987-06-11 survey
FISH POPULATION IS DOMINATED BY BULLHEADS AND YELLOW PERCH. GILLNET INDEX FOR BULLHEAD WAS WELL ABOVE STATE AND LOCAL MEDIANS AND FISH WERE OF SMALL SIZE (5.7 INCHES). GILLNET INDICES FOR NORTHERN PIKE, WHITE SUCKER, AND ROCK BASS WERE ALSO WELL ABOVE STATE AND LOCAL MEDIANS. WALLEYE, BLUEGILL AND BLACK CRAPPIE ARE…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for First Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FirstFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — First (1707)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FirstPublic 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 | → Stable | -0.049 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.23 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.55 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #34 of 37 lakes in Clearwater County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
First Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Clearwater County
Frequently asked questions about First Lake
What is the water quality grade for First Lake?
- First Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 69.14 acres.
Is First Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. First Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of First Lake?
- First Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August, from 93 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is First Lake?
- First Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake covers 69.14 acres.
Are there boat ramps on First Lake?
- First Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include First Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore First Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
27 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA27 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory