Hawksnest Lake
Hawksnest Lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 213 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7.3 ft. Surface area: 298.64 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.6 ft
- Max depth
- 7.3 ft
- Area
- 299 acres
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Lincoln County
Why Hawksnest Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Hawksnest Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Hawksnest Lake is a 299-acre lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 7 feet. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-07-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Hawksnest Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 213 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 14 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 213 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hawksnest Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hawksnest Lake in Lincoln 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 Hawksnest Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 7.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 299 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Hawksnest Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2002-06-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 2962.00 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 150.75 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 29.75 | 0.2 lb |
| BST | 1.00 | — |
| White Sucker | 0.10 | 1.63 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
From the 2002-06-18 survey
Hawks Nest is a shallow, 282 acres lake located three miles east of Ivanhoe in southwest Minnesota. Due to the shallow and productive nature of the lake, it is prone to winterkill. The latest winterkill occurred during the winter of 2000/2001. This winterkill apparently eliminated yellow perch from the lake. An…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hawksnest Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HawksnestFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Graded lakes near Hawksnest Lake
Hawksnest Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Hawksnest Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hawksnest Lake?
- Hawksnest Lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 213 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7.3 ft. Surface area: 298.64 acres.
Is Hawksnest Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Hawksnest Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 14 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Hawksnest Lake?
- Hawksnest Lake has a maximum depth of 7.3 feet. The lake covers 298.64 acres.
Explore Hawksnest 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 Lincoln County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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State Parks Near Hawksnest Lake
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Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA4 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder