French Lake
French Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 346.37 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 50 ft
- Area
- 346 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 2
- Open water
- 244 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near French Lake →
Next lake in Wright County
French Lake is a 346-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wright County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 50 feet (17-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 50 other monitored lakes in Wright County, French Lake ranks #30 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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 4.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 23.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 46 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 23.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near French Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near French Lake in Wright 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 French Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near French Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
French Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 63°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 304 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full French Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 50 ft |
| Average Depth | 16.6 ft |
| Surface Area | 346 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- French LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing French 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 53.71 | 0.19 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 36.82 | 1.18 lb |
| Black Crappie | 17.56 | 0.26 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 13.12 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 11.28 | 0.1 lb |
| White Crappie | 10.08 | 0.26 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 Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-07-07 survey
French Lake is a 346-acre lake located three miles southwest of the City of Annandale. The lake is highly productive and has a maximum depth of 50 feet. The watershed is large, and land use is primarily cultivated crops (47%). Summer water clarity is relatively poor and was 1.5 feet in July. Additionally, the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for French Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FrenchFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FrenchFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FrenchPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.183 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.6 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +4.6 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (36 observations).
Estimated open water season: 244 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-07 (2024) | 2013-05-02 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-13 (2018) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-24
EPA Impairment Status
French Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN86-0273-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #30 of 51 lakes in Wright County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
French Lake holds Grade D. 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 Wright County
Frequently asked questions about French Lake
What is the water quality grade for French Lake?
- French Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 346.37 acres.
Is French 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. French Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 23.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of French Lake?
- French Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, from 304 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is French Lake?
- French Lake has a maximum depth of 50 feet and an average depth of 16.6 feet. The lake covers 346.37 acres.
What fish are in French Lake?
- Fish species found in French Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. French Lake is located in Wright County, Minnesota.
When does French Lake thaw?
- French Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 2. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 244 days.
Are there boat ramps on French Lake?
- French Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include French Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore French 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 Wright 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 French Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
166 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
MNPCA166 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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