Julia Lake
Sherburne County, Minnesota154 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Julia Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 15 ft max depth
- Public access
Julia Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 78 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 154.48 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 3.00 walleye per gill net at Julia Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–23 inches. DNR survey details →
Julia Lake is a 154-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 15 feet (8-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Sherburne County, Julia Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-26. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Julia Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 2
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Julia Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Julia Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Julia Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Julia Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 78 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 28.5 µg/L. TSI 66.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 78µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 28.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 66 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Julia Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Julia Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (63°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 209 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Julia Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 3.00 walleye per gill net at Julia Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–23 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Julia Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
17 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-10-03 (Targeted Survey).
17 surveys on file · most recent 2024-10-03 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 31.31 | 6–23 in 2024-10-03 | 1.32 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 27.14 | 9–14 in 2024-08-05 | 1.1 lb |
| Black Crappie | 22.60 | 4–13 in 2024-08-05 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 18.38 | 3–8 in 2024-08-05 | 0.11 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.34 | 3–7 in 2024-08-05 | 0.14 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-10-03 survey
The Briggs Chain of Lakes is made up of Briggs, Julia and Rush lakes which are connected by a navigable channel. Walleye fry have been stocked into the chain every other year since 1992. Night electrofishing was conducted during the evening of October 3, 2024. A total of nine young of year (YOY) Walleye were collected…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Julia Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — JuliaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Julia (1975)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — JuliaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — JuliaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
15 ft
Average depth
8.2 ft
Surface area
154 acres
Shoreline
2.3 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- Julia LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Julia Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Julia Lake in Sherburne 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Julia Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Julia Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Julia Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Worsening5 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+16.33 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+6.77 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 2
Earliest Mar 3, 2024 · Latest Apr 21, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 28
Earliest Nov 24, 2003 · Latest Dec 9, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Mar 30
2026
24 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Julia Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN71-0145-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Sherburne County
Frequently asked questions about Julia Lake
Where is Julia Lake?
- Julia Lake is a lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Julia Lake?
- Julia Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 78 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 154.48 acres.
Is Julia Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Julia Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Julia Lake?
- Julia Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, from 209 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Julia Lake?
- Julia Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet and an average depth of 8.2 feet. The lake covers 154.48 acres.
What fish are in Julia Lake?
- Fish species found in Julia Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Julia Lake is located in Sherburne County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Julia Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 3.00 walleye per gill net at Julia Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–23 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Julia Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Julia Lake thaw?
- Julia Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 2. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 240 days.
Are there boat ramps on Julia Lake?
- Julia Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Julia Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Julia Lake?
- Julia Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Julia Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Sherburne County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
74 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA74 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate