Francis Lake
Francis Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 1053.22 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 1,053 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 5
- Open water
- 238 days
Next lake in Meeker County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Francis Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 15 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Francis Lake is a 1,053-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet (9-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Meeker County, Francis Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-20. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Francis Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Francis Lake in Meeker 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
Francis Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Francis Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Average Depth | 8.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,053 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 83% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Francis LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Francis 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
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 108.80 | — |
| BCS | 23.91 | — |
| Bluegill | 20.84 | 0.13 lb |
| BKF | 20.28 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 14.04 | 0.09 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 12.94 | 0.61 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Yellow Bass
From the 2025-07-14 survey
Francis is a moderate-sized lake (1,053 acres) located northeast of the Town of Kingston in Meeker County. A township-owned access with paved parking and a single cement boat ramp is present on the north shore. Francis has approximately seven miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of seventeen feet. The Minnesota…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Francis Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FrancisFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Francis (0876)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FrancisFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FrancisPublic 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 | ↑ Improving | +0.148 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.46 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.87 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (12 observations).
Estimated open water season: 238 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-03-31 (2007) | 2008-04-22 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 1995-11-12 (1995) | 1999-12-05 (1999) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-13
EPA Impairment Status
Francis 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 MN47-0002-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 19 lakes in Meeker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Francis 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 Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Francis Lake
What is the water quality grade for Francis Lake?
- Francis Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 1053.22 acres.
Is Francis Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Francis Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Francis Lake?
- Francis Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Francis Lake?
- Francis Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet and an average depth of 8.5 feet. The lake covers 1053.22 acres.
What fish are in Francis Lake?
- Fish species found in Francis Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Francis Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
When does Francis Lake thaw?
- Francis Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 238 days.
Are there boat ramps on Francis Lake?
- Francis Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Francis Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Francis 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 Meeker 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
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Where this data comes from
156 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA156 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 (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
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