Garden Lake
Garden Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 653.33 acres.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 653 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 26
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in Lake County
Garden Lake is a 653-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and burbot. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Garden Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Garden Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Garden Lake in Lake 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
Garden Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 66°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 507 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Garden Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 653 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 17.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 37% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Fall Lake (South)Public
- Garden LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Garden Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CIS | 6.22 | 0.24 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 3.76 | 0.42 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.92 | 0.16 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.89 | 2.24 lb |
| Walleye | 1.78 | 0.96 lb |
| Bluegill | 1.50 | 0.4 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.
CIS
Tullibee (Cisco)
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
From the 2023-07-17 survey
Garden Lake is five miles east of Ely, covers 653 acres, and is one of three connected lakes that with Farm and South Farm comprise the Garden Reservoir. This system is also connected to White Iron Lake via the South Kawishiwi River. A public access with a concrete plank boat ramp is located near the northwest corner…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Garden Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GardenFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Garden (1888)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GardenFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GardenPublic 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 | -0.093 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.84 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.01 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (29 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-04-11 (2017) | 2018-05-07 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2001-12-07 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-05-01
EPA Impairment Status
Garden 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 MN38-0782-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Garden Lake
What is the water quality grade for Garden Lake?
- Garden Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 653.33 acres.
Is Garden Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Garden Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Garden Lake?
- Garden Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, from 507 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Garden Lake?
- Garden Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 653.33 acres.
What fish are in Garden Lake?
- Fish species found in Garden Lake include black crappie, bluegill, burbot, cisco species, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Garden Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
When does Garden Lake thaw?
- Garden Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 26. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Are there boat ramps on Garden Lake?
- Garden Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fall Lake (South), Garden Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Garden 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 Lake County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Garden Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Garden Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
104 measurements from 4 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
MNPCA104 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 (4)
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