Ham Lake
Ham Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 194.17 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.7 ft
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 194 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Hubbard County
Ham Lake is a 194-acre mesotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 22 feet (7-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Ham Lake ranks #29 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 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 9.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ham Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ham 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Average Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 194 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 90% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ham Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-08-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 45.51 | 0.14 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 10.31 | 0.24 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 4.78 | 0.42 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 3.59 | 0.69 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.38 | 0.34 lb |
| White Sucker | 2.64 | 2.08 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
Pumpkinseed
Hybrid Sunfish
Largemouth Bass
From the 2017-08-28 survey
Ham Lake is located five miles southeast of Nevis in southeastern Hubbard County. Ham has a surface area of 194 acres and a maximum depth of 22 feet. There is no public access on Ham. Ham provides fishing opportunities for Largemouth Bass, Panfish, and Northern Pike. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ham Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HamFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.05 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.75 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.55 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Ham 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 MN29-0017-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #29 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Ham Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ham Lake?
- Ham Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 194.17 acres.
Is Ham Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Ham Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Ham Lake?
- Ham Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet and an average depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 194.17 acres.
What fish are in Ham Lake?
- Fish species found in Ham Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Ham Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
43 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA43 samples · 2022–2024
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder