Latimer Lake
Todd County, Minnesota202 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Latimer Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 31 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Latimer Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 57.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30.5 ft. Surface area: 201.84 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 8, 2020 caught 0.86 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Latimer Lake. DNR survey details →
Latimer Lake is a 202-acre lake in Todd County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 31 feet (18-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Latimer Lake covers about 200 acres in Todd County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 15, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Latimer Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Latimer Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing11 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 15
- Deep water30.5 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingRecreation use not supported
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Latimer Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Latimer 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 Latimer Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Latimer Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus 58.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 57.1 µg/L. TSI 62.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 58.5µg/L | Measured, not scored The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 57.1µg/L | Measured, not scored The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 62 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Latimer Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Latimer Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Oct (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (59°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 34 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Latimer Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 8, 2020 caught 0.86 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Latimer Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Latimer Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-07-08 (Targeted Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2020-07-08 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 67.34 | 4–14 in 2019-08-19 | 0.41 lb |
| Bluegill | 36.96 | 3–7 in 2019-08-19 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.19 | 4–9 in 2019-08-19 | 0.2 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 13.44 | 5–8 in 2019-08-19 | 0.27 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.79 | 5–9 in 2019-08-19 | 0.17 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.75 | 6–17 in 2019-08-19 | 1.49 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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Green Sunfish
From the 2020-07-08 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Latimer Lake was conducted on July 8-9, 2020 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Latimer Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LatimerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LatimerFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LatimerPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
30.5 ft
Average depth
17.5 ft
Surface area
202 acres
Shoreline
2.6 mi
Littoral zone
38%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,306 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Latimer 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 Latimer Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Latimer Lake in Todd 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 Latimer 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 Latimer Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 15
Earliest Mar 21, 2016 · Latest May 2, 2018
Typical ice-in
Nov 27
Earliest Nov 25, 2010 · Latest Dec 14, 2004
Most recent ice-out
May 2
2018
18 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Latimer 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: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN77-0105-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Latimer Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger.
- Long Prairie WwtpLong Prairie · 4.9 mi away · NPDES MN0066079Major
- Long PrairieLong Prairie · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MN0020303
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.
Nearby Lakes in Todd County
Frequently asked questions about Latimer Lake
Where is Latimer Lake?
- Latimer Lake is a lake in Todd County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Latimer Lake?
- Latimer Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 57.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30.5 ft. Surface area: 201.84 acres.
Is Latimer Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Latimer Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Latimer Lake?
- Latimer Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October, from 34 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Latimer Lake?
- Latimer Lake has a maximum depth of 30.5 feet and an average depth of 17.5 feet. The lake covers 201.84 acres.
What fish are in Latimer Lake?
- Fish species found in Latimer Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Latimer Lake is located in Todd County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Latimer Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 8, 2020 caught 0.86 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Latimer Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Latimer Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Latimer Lake thaw?
- Latimer Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 226 days.
Are there boat ramps on Latimer Lake?
- Latimer Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Latimer Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Latimer Lake?
- Latimer 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 Latimer Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Todd County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
53 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA53 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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