Knieff Lake
Knieff Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 44.33 acres.
- Clarity
- 19 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 44 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 2
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Why Knieff 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 Knieff 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, but not 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.
Knieff Lake is a 44-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. 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 Knieff Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Knieff Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Knieff Lake in Crow Wing 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 Knieff Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Knieff Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 33 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Knieff Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 42% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Bay LakePublic
Fishing Knieff Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1973-09-04 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 48.00 | 0.07 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 12.50 | 0.61 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.17 | 0.2 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.42 | 2.79 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.00 | 0.2 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1973-09-04 survey
Bass-Panfish.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Knieff Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — KnieffFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Knieff (0428)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.026 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2023-05-02 (2023) | 2022-05-04 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2022-11-25 (2022) | 2021-12-07 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-05-02
Graded lakes near Knieff Lake
Knieff Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Knieff Lake
What is the water quality grade for Knieff Lake?
- Knieff Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 44.33 acres.
Is Knieff Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Knieff Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Knieff Lake?
- Knieff Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 33 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Knieff Lake?
- Knieff Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 44.33 acres.
When does Knieff Lake thaw?
- Knieff Lake typically has ice-out around May 2. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Are there boat ramps on Knieff Lake?
- Knieff Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bay Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
91 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA91 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate