Kittleson Lake
Kittleson Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 7.1 ft
- Mean depth
- ~8 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Polk County
Kittleson Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 8 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Kittleson Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Kittleson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kittleson Lake in Polk 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 Kittleson Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~8 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Kittleson Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Kittleson Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.22 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.9 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Kittleson 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 MN60-0327-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 19 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Kittleson Lake holds Grade B. 2 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 Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Kittleson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Kittleson Lake?
- Kittleson Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L.
Is Kittleson Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Kittleson Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Kittleson Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Kittleson Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 8 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
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Where this data comes from
60 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
MNPCA60 samples · 2020–2023
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder