Freeborn Lake
Freeborn Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 247.63 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.6 ft
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 248 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Freeborn Lake →
Next lake in Douglas County
Freeborn Lake is a 248-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2024. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Freeborn Lake ranks #33 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-16. 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 4.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 16.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 16.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Freeborn Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Freeborn Lake in Douglas 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 Freeborn Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Freeborn Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 248 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 69% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Freeborn LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Freeborn 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
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 68.16 | 0.19 lb |
| GOS | 67.59 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 28.75 | 1.24 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 28.03 | 0.8 lb |
| IOD | 18.70 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 15.01 | 0.15 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
Largemouth Bass
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2020-08-24 survey
Freeborn Lake (247 acres) is a shallow, highly productive basin located north of Farwell. A concrete public access is found on the western shoreline off County Road 96. Average and maximum depths are 12 and 18 feet, respectively. Due to high productivity, water clarity was moderate (2.5 feet) at the time of the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Freeborn Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FreebornFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Freeborn (0938)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FreebornFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FreebornPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Freeborn 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 MN21-0692-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.48 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Freeborn Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Farwell Kensington WwtfDouglas County · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MN0065293
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 #33 of 37 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Freeborn 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 Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Freeborn Lake
What is the water quality grade for Freeborn Lake?
- Freeborn Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 247.63 acres.
Is Freeborn 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. Freeborn Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 16.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Freeborn Lake?
- Freeborn Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 247.63 acres.
What fish are in Freeborn Lake?
- Fish species found in Freeborn Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Freeborn Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Freeborn Lake?
- Freeborn Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Freeborn Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Freeborn Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA8 samples · 2024
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
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