Garfield Lake
Garfield Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 972.29 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 972 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 27
- Open water
- 215 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Garfield Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 35 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Garfield Lake is a 972-acre mesotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 32 feet (15-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Garfield Lake ranks #34 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Garfield Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Garfield Lake in Hubbard 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
Garfield Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 66 field readings (2017–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Garfield Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 972 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 54% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Garfield LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Garfield 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-27 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 35.81 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 13.84 | 0.17 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 13.00 | — |
| BKF | 11.53 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 10.95 | 0.84 lb |
| Bluegill | 7.45 | 0.31 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.
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
From the 2022-06-27 survey
A targeted survey of the nearshore and littoral fish community in Garfield Lake was conducted by Fisheries Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff from 27-29 June 2022. Fourteen sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-foot or…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Garfield Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GarfieldFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Garfield (1254)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GarfieldFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GarfieldPublic 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 | +0.172 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.06 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.38 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (17 observations).
Estimated open water season: 215 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-04-04 (2021) | 2022-05-08 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2021-11-24 (2021) | 2006-11-30 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-08
EPA Impairment Status
Garfield 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 MN29-0061-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #34 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Garfield Lake
What is the water quality grade for Garfield Lake?
- Garfield Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 972.29 acres.
Is Garfield Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Garfield Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Garfield Lake?
- Garfield Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 66 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Garfield Lake?
- Garfield Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 972.29 acres.
What fish are in Garfield Lake?
- Fish species found in Garfield Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Garfield Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Garfield Lake thaw?
- Garfield Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 27. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 215 days.
Are there boat ramps on Garfield Lake?
- Garfield Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Garfield Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Garfield Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
156 measurements from 3 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 (3)
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