Johnson Lake
Johnson Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 30.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 2729.83 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 2,730 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 25
Next lake in Kandiyohi County
Why Johnson 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 Johnson Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. 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.
Johnson Lake is a 2,730-acre lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-08-25. 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 Johnson Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 30.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 96 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 30.2 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Johnson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Johnson Lake in Kandiyohi 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 Johnson Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,730 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 14.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 53% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Kandiyohi County Park No. 1 (West)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Johnson Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
23 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-09-11 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 43.07 | 0.96 lb |
| JND | 32.23 | — |
| Bluegill | 26.19 | 0.39 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 20.43 | 0.58 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 11.12 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 8.91 | 0.32 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.
Walleye
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-09-11 survey
A targeted fall night electrofishing survey of young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye was conducted on Big Kandiyohi Lake during September 11, 2024. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Johnson Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Big KandiyohiFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Big KandiyohiFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Big KandiyohiPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-03-28 (2007) | 2013-05-02 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2008-11-22 (2008) | 2007-11-26 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-04-29
EPA Impairment Status
Johnson 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 MN34-0086-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.03 km)
Graded lakes near Johnson Lake
Johnson Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Johnson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Johnson Lake?
- Johnson Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 30.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 2729.83 acres.
Is Johnson Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Johnson Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 30.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Johnson Lake?
- Johnson Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 2729.83 acres.
What fish are in Johnson Lake?
- Fish species found in Johnson Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Johnson Lake is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
When does Johnson Lake thaw?
- Johnson Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 25.
Are there boat ramps on Johnson Lake?
- Johnson Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Kandiyohi County Park No. 1 (West). Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 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 - Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Monitoring
MNDA_PESTICIDE1 sample · 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 (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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate