Hassel Lake
Hassel Lake in Swift County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 47.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Mean depth
- ~6 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Swift County
Hassel Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Swift County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 6 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Hassel Lake water quality
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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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 47.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 47.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hassel Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hassel Lake in Swift 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 Hassel Lake
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Water Temperature
Hassel Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2019–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hassel Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~6 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Hassel Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Lake HasselPublic
Fishing Hassel Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hassel Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fish Stocking History — HasselFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HasselPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Hassel 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 MN76-0086-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Swift County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Hassel Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Swift County
Frequently asked questions about Hassel Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hassel Lake?
- Hassel Lake in Swift County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 47.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L.
Is Hassel Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Hassel Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hassel Lake?
- Hassel Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hassel Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Hassel Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 6 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Hassel Lake?
- Hassel Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Hassel. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA11 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory