Jessie Lake
Jessie Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 110.23 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.8 ft
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 110 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 11
- Open water
- 225 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Jessie Lake →
Next lake in Douglas County
Jessie Lake is a 110-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet (11-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Jessie Lake ranks #32 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-12. 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.
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 51.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 27.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 51.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 27.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Jessie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Jessie Lake in Douglas 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 Jessie Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Jessie Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Average Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 110 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 63% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Jessie 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: 2021-08-16 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BKS | 759.09 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 20.38 | 0.85 lb |
| Bluegill | 17.79 | 0.21 lb |
| JND | 9.25 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 8.07 | 0.72 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.68 | 0.18 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2021-08-16 survey
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in Jessie Lake was conducted by Fisheries Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff from 16-18 August 2021. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-foot or 50-foot seine, where…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Jessie Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — JessieFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — JessieFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.19 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (21 observations).
Estimated open water season: 225 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-04-01 (2017) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-03 (2006) | 2015-11-28 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-25
EPA Impairment Status
Jessie 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 MN21-0055-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #32 of 37 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Jessie 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.
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Jessie Lake
What is the water quality grade for Jessie Lake?
- Jessie Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 27.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 110.23 acres.
Is Jessie 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. Jessie Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 27.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Jessie Lake?
- Jessie Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet and an average depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 110.23 acres.
What fish are in Jessie Lake?
- Fish species found in Jessie Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Jessie Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
When does Jessie Lake thaw?
- Jessie Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 11. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Explore Jessie Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA21 samples · 2020–2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate