Link Lake
Lake County, MinnesotaLimited DataMesotrophic
Link Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season.
Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Link Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. A maximum depth of 34 ft puts Link Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. The lake is compact at 38 acres, with 1.8 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Link Lake sits at rank 77 of 142 in Lake County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Link Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Link Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Link Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-06-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Track Link Lake
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 38.1 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| Public Access | No |
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.045 m/yr | 4 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #77 of 142 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-31 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| LKW | 4.67 | 0.58 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.00 | 1.13 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.67 | 2.84 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 2025-07-31 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Link Lake on July 31st, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Whitefish, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Lake…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Link Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LinkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Link Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0206-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.34 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2023-06-09
Monitoring stations: 1