Hay Lake
Hay Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 52.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 52 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Why Hay 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 Hay 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.
Hay Lake is a 52-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-06-30. 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 Hay Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Hay Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hay Lake in Crow Wing 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 Hay Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 57% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Blackhoof LakePublic
- Little Black Hoof LakePublic
- Hay LakePublic
Fishing Hay Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1982-07-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 7.63 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 7.00 | 2 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.25 | 0.13 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.00 | 0.24 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 2.25 | 0.46 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 1.75 | 0.74 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1982-07-07 survey
Present Northern Pike population is composed of various year classes with an excellent length frequency. Growth and abundance is about average for this area. Bluegills, Pumpkinseeds, and Black Crappie abundance below average but size is good. Largemouth Bass present in low numbers.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hay Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HayFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HayPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.58 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Hay Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN18-0139-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.29 km)
Graded lakes near Hay Lake
Hay Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Hay Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hay Lake?
- Hay Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 52.2 acres.
Is Hay Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Hay Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Hay Lake?
- Hay Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 52.2 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Hay Lake?
- Hay Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Blackhoof Lake, Little Black Hoof Lake, Hay Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
5 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
MNPCA5 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 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
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