Frances Lake
Frances Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 927.01 acres.
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Typical in August
- 81°F
- Max depth
- 60 ft
- Area
- 927 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 29
- Open water
- 249 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Frances Lake →
Next lake in Le Sueur County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Frances Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 60 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Frances Lake is a 927-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 60 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Le Sueur County, Frances Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 20.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 20.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Frances Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Frances Lake in Le Sueur 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 Frances Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Frances Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Frances Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 81°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Frances Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 60 ft |
| Surface Area | 927 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 54% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Frances Lake (West)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Frances 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: 2023-09-12 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 24.56 | 0.75 lb |
| Bluegill | 20.95 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 12.83 | 0.96 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 9.59 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 5.16 | 0.27 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 4.73 | 0.85 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Bluntnose Minnow
From the 2023-09-12 survey
Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Frances lake 09/12/2023, following the protocols listed in the MN DNR Lake Plant Mapping Manual. There were a total of 38.2 acres of floating and emergent plants mapped. This consisted of 11.9 acres of emergent…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Frances Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FrancesFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Frances (1389)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FrancesFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FrancesPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.009 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (51 observations).
Estimated open water season: 249 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-04 (2024) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-21 (2018) | 1999-01-10 (1999) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-27
EPA Impairment Status
Frances 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 MN40-0057-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 13 lakes in Le Sueur County
Nearby Lakes in Le Sueur County
Frequently asked questions about Frances Lake
What is the water quality grade for Frances Lake?
- Frances Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 927.01 acres.
Is Frances 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. Frances Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 20.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Frances Lake?
- Frances Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August, from 10 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Frances Lake?
- Frances Lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet. The lake covers 927.01 acres.
What fish are in Frances Lake?
- Fish species found in Frances Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Frances Lake is located in Le Sueur County, Minnesota.
When does Frances Lake thaw?
- Frances Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 29. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 249 days.
Are there boat ramps on Frances Lake?
- Frances Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Frances Lake (West). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Frances 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 Le Sueur County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Minnesota 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 Frances Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Frances Lake With Nearby Lakes
Le Sueur County · Grade F
Le Sueur County · Grade F
Le Sueur County · Grade D
Le Sueur County · Grade F
Le Sueur County · Grade F
Le Sueur County · Grade F
Where this data comes from
85 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
MNPCA85 samples · 2020–2025
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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate