Knaus Lake
Knaus Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 143 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 215.95 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 216 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 9
- Open water
- 229 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Knaus Lake →
Next lake in Stearns County
Knaus Lake is a 216-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 20 feet (6-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Knaus Lake ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 143 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 31 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 143 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 31 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Knaus Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Knaus Lake in Stearns 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 Knaus Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Knaus 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 →
Water Temperature
Knaus Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Oct (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 71 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Knaus Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Average Depth | 6.4 ft |
| Surface Area | 216 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 94% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lions ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Knaus 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
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-31 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 33.50 | 0.35 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 18.28 | 0.62 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 14.06 | 2.25 lb |
| GRR | 12.50 | 2.59 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.78 | 0.19 lb |
| Bluegill | 10.25 | 0.29 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.
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Channel Catfish
GRR
From the 2024-07-31 survey
The Sauk River Chain of Lakes (SRCL) is located in south-central Stearns County, near the city of Richmond. A dam built in the early 1900's on the Sauk River in Cold Spring created the SRCL a reservoir consisting of nine lakes and approximately 3,200 acres of water. The Sauk River drains a large portion of central…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Knaus Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — KnausFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.214 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +18.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +22.2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
Estimated open water season: 229 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2004-04-03 (2004) | 2008-04-21 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2007-11-01 (2007) | 2004-11-25 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-04-21
EPA Impairment Status
Knaus 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 MN73-0086-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Knaus Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Cold Spring WwtpCold Spring · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MN0023094MajorRecent violation
- Gold'N Plump Poultry LlcCold Spring · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MN0047261Recent violation
- Cold Spring Brewing CoCold Spring · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MN0055221
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 32 lakes in Stearns County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Knaus Lake holds Grade F. 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 Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Knaus Lake
What is the water quality grade for Knaus Lake?
- Knaus Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 143 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 215.95 acres.
Is Knaus Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Knaus Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 31 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Knaus Lake?
- Knaus Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 71 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Knaus Lake?
- Knaus Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet and an average depth of 6.4 feet. The lake covers 215.95 acres.
What fish are in Knaus Lake?
- Fish species found in Knaus Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, greater redhorse, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Knaus Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Knaus Lake thaw?
- Knaus Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 9. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 229 days.
Are there boat ramps on Knaus Lake?
- Knaus Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lions Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Knaus Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Stearns County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
85 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA85 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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