Fox Lake
Fox Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 197 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 65.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 951.02 acres.
- Clarity
- 1 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 951 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 22
- Open water
- 271 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Fox Lake →
Next lake in Martin County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Fox Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 20 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Fox Lake is a 951-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Martin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Martin County, Fox Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Fox Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 197 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 65.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 76.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 197 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 65.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 76 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Fox Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fox Lake in Martin 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 Fox Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Fox 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 →
Water Temperature
Fox Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 104 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fox Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 951 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 11.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 82% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fox Lake (Northeast)Public
- Fox Lake (Southeast)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fox Lake
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (13 observations).
Estimated open water season: 271 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-12 (2017) | 2018-04-27 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2007-11-22 (2007) | 2004-12-21 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-04-27
EPA Impairment Status
Fox 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 MN46-0109-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Fox Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Welcom WwtfWelcome · 3.6 mi away · NPDES MN0021296
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 #6 of 12 lakes in Martin County
Nearby Lakes in Martin County
Frequently asked questions about Fox Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 197 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 65.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 951.02 acres.
Is Fox Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Fox Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 65.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 104 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 951.02 acres.
What fish are in Fox Lake?
- Fish species found in Fox Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid crappie, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, quillback, walleye, white crappie, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Fox Lake is located in Martin County, Minnesota.
When does Fox Lake thaw?
- Fox Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 22. Ice typically forms around Dec 18. The open water season is approximately 271 days.
Are there boat ramps on Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fox Lake (Northeast), Fox Lake (Southeast). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fox Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Martin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Fox Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Fox Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA23 samples · 2025
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