Foot Lake
Foot Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 502.99 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 503 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 3
- Open water
- 228 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Foot Lake →
Next lake in Kandiyohi County
Foot Lake is a 503-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 24 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 24 other monitored lakes in Kandiyohi County, Foot Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-21. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 54.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 20.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 54.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 20.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Foot Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Foot Lake in Kandiyohi 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Foot Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Foot Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Foot Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (34,041 cells/mL) on November 22, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Surface Area | 503 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 132% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Foot LakePublic
- Foot Lake, County Road 41Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Foot 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
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 106.53 | 0.38 lb |
| Walleye | 54.33 | 1.27 lb |
| Bluegill | 9.11 | 0.17 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.97 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.69 | 0.14 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 5.04 | 1.4 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.
Black Bullhead
Walleye
Bluegill
Black Crappie
From the 2025-07-21 survey
A standard survey was conducted on Foot Lake during late July of 2025. A fall night electrofishing survey was conducted for young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye during early September of 2025. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e. spawning season, fall…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Foot Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FootFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FootFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FootPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.01 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +17.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (17 observations).
Estimated open water season: 228 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-07 (2017) | 2013-05-02 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-08 (2017) | 2006-11-30 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-02
EPA Impairment Status
Foot 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 MN34-0180-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.23 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Foot Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Bnsf Railway Co - WillmarWillmar · 1 mi away · NPDES MN0000779
- Willmar Municipal UtilitiesWillmar · 1 mi away · NPDES MN0069663
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 #15 of 25 lakes in Kandiyohi County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Foot Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Foot Lake
What is the water quality grade for Foot Lake?
- Foot Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 502.99 acres.
Is Foot Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Foot Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 20.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Foot Lake?
- Foot Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet. The lake covers 502.99 acres.
What fish are in Foot Lake?
- Fish species found in Foot Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Foot Lake is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
When does Foot Lake thaw?
- Foot Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 3. Ice typically forms around Nov 17. The open water season is approximately 228 days.
Does Foot Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Foot Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (34,041 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Foot Lake?
- Foot Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Foot Lake, Foot Lake, County Road 41. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Foot 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 Kandiyohi County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Foot Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Foot Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. 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
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate