Indian Lake
Indian Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 139.28 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 139 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 19
- Open water
- 224 days
Next lake in Wright County
Indian Lake is a 139-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wright County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 31 feet (16-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 50 other monitored lakes in Wright County, Indian Lake ranks #22 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Indian Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Indian 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.
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Water Temperature
Indian Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 69°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 90 field readings (2019–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Indian Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Average Depth | 16.4 ft |
| Surface Area | 139 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 47% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Indian LakePublic
- Sugar Lake (South)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Indian 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: 2025-05-05 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 117.82 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Crappie | 20.31 | 0.25 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 19.67 | 0.57 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 8.68 | 0.11 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 8.03 | 0.83 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 4.99 | 1.08 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
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Green Sunfish
From the 2025-05-05 survey
A reduced daily bag limit on sunfish (10 fish daily) was enacted on Indian Lake (Wright County) beginning March 1, 2021. To evaluate the effectiveness of this regulation and to monitor size structure in the Bluegill population, targeted Bluegill assessments were conducted on Indian Lake in 2017, 2021, and 2025.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Indian Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — IndianFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Indian (1940)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — IndianPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.003 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.09 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.25 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (17 observations).
Estimated open water season: 224 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-04-01 (2007) | 2018-05-02 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-15 (2014) | 2016-12-10 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-21
EPA Impairment Status
Indian 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 MN86-0223-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #22 of 51 lakes in Wright County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Indian Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Wright County
Frequently asked questions about Indian Lake
What is the water quality grade for Indian Lake?
- Indian Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 139.28 acres.
Is Indian Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Indian Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Indian Lake?
- Indian Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 90 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Indian Lake?
- Indian Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet and an average depth of 16.4 feet. The lake covers 139.28 acres.
What fish are in Indian Lake?
- Fish species found in Indian Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker. Indian Lake is located in Wright County, Minnesota.
When does Indian Lake thaw?
- Indian Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 224 days.
Are there boat ramps on Indian Lake?
- Indian Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Indian Lake, Sugar Lake (South). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Indian Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
15 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
MNPCA15 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate