Howard Lake
Howard Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 745 acres.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 39 ft
- Area
- 745 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
- Open water
- 230 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Howard Lake →
Next lake in Wright County
Howard Lake is a 745-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wright County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 39 feet (16-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 50 other monitored lakes in Wright County, Howard Lake ranks #25 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 21.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 57 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 21.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Howard Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Howard Lake in Wright 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Howard Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Howard Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Howard Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 211 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Howard Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 39 ft |
| Average Depth | 16.1 ft |
| Surface Area | 745 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 43% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Memorial ParkPublic
- Lions ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Howard Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-19 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 82.99 | 0.09 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 42.14 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 30.31 | 0.69 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 27.09 | 1.5 lb |
| Bluegill | 22.53 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 14.35 | 0.28 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.
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2024-08-19 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Howard Lake, was conducted on July 29-July 31st, 2024, by Area Fisheries staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Howard Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HowardFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HowardFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HowardPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.058 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.44 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.7 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (238 observations).
Estimated open water season: 230 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-15 (2000) | 2018-05-02 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-07 (1991) | 2020-12-26 (2020) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-03
EPA Impairment Status
Howard Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN86-0199-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Howard Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Howard LakeHoward Lake · 1.2 mi away · NPDES MN0051926
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #25 of 51 lakes in Wright County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Howard Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Wright County
Frequently asked questions about Howard Lake
What is the water quality grade for Howard Lake?
- Howard Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 745 acres.
Is Howard Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Howard Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 21.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Howard Lake?
- Howard Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 211 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Howard Lake?
- Howard Lake has a maximum depth of 39 feet and an average depth of 16.1 feet. The lake covers 745 acres.
What fish are in Howard Lake?
- Fish species found in Howard Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Howard Lake is located in Wright County, Minnesota.
When does Howard Lake thaw?
- Howard Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 230 days.
Are there boat ramps on Howard Lake?
- Howard Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Memorial Park, Lions Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Howard 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 Wright County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Where this data comes from
185 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA185 samples · 2020–2025
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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