Halfbreed Lake
Halfbreed Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 91.82 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 62°F
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 92 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 216 days
Next lake in Washington County
Halfbreed Lake is a 92-acre mesotrophic lake in Washington County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 74 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Halfbreed Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-03. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Halfbreed Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Halfbreed Lake in Washington 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Halfbreed Lake
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Water Temperature
Halfbreed Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 62°F) and coldest in May (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 219 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Halfbreed Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 92 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 73% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Forest Lake #3Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Halfbreed Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1997-07-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 18.13 | 0.09 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 10.10 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 4.87 | 0.79 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.39 | 0.08 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.73 | 1.97 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 1.91 | 0.27 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
Hybrid Sunfish
Yellow Bass
Pumpkinseed
From the 1997-07-29 survey
Sunfish species (bluegill, pumpkinseed, green, and hybrid sunfish) dominated the fish population. Only 34 (6.9%) of the fish were over 6 inches in length with 7 (1.7%) over 7 inches long. Black crappie were present in very low numbers. Northern pike were the most abundant predator, with most fish between 22 and 28…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Halfbreed Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — KeewahtinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.818 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
Estimated open water season: 216 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-03-30 (2007) | 2013-05-01 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-07 (2019) | 2006-11-30 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-04-30
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 75 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Halfbreed Lake
What is the water quality grade for Halfbreed Lake?
- Halfbreed Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 91.82 acres.
Is Halfbreed Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Halfbreed Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Halfbreed Lake?
- Halfbreed Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in August, from 219 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Halfbreed Lake?
- Halfbreed Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 91.82 acres.
What fish are in Halfbreed Lake?
- Fish species found in Halfbreed Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow bullhead. Halfbreed Lake is located in Washington County, Minnesota.
When does Halfbreed Lake thaw?
- Halfbreed Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Nov 20. The open water season is approximately 216 days.
Are there boat ramps on Halfbreed Lake?
- Halfbreed Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Forest Lake #3. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Halfbreed Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA32 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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
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