Linwood Lake
Linwood Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 42.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 572.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 572 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 31
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Linwood Lake →
Next lake in Anoka County
Linwood Lake is a 572-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet (11-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, Linwood Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 42.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 19.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 42.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Linwood Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Linwood Lake in Anoka 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 Linwood Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Linwood 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
Linwood Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Oct (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 23 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Linwood Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Linwood Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (159,956 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Average Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 572 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 83% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Linwood LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Linwood 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
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-07-26 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 16.54 | 0.18 lb |
| Black Crappie | 9.59 | 0.21 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 7.82 | 0.71 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.69 | 2.44 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.32 | 0.12 lb |
| White Crappie | 2.40 | 0.31 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.
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Black Bullhead
Northern Pike
From the 2021-07-26 survey
Linwood Lake is a 572 acre, class 38 lake (max depth 42 feet) located in northeastern Anoka County. Linwood Lake is located west of Wyoming, MN in Anoka County. Much of the lake's shoreline is developed with up-dated seasonal residences now occupied year around. Approximately 1/3 of the shoreline is undeveloped and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Linwood Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LinwoodFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LinwoodFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LinwoodPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.028 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.83 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +4.73 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (15 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-15 (2016) | 2013-05-07 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2020-12-09 (2020) | 2020-12-09 (2020) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-31
EPA Impairment Status
Linwood 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 MN02-0026-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Linwood Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Linwood TerraceWyoming · 0.7 mi away · NPDES MN0054372Recent violation
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 #15 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Linwood Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about Linwood Lake
What is the water quality grade for Linwood Lake?
- Linwood Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 42.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 572.1 acres.
Is Linwood Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Linwood Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 19.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Linwood Lake?
- Linwood Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 23 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Linwood Lake?
- Linwood Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet and an average depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 572.1 acres.
What fish are in Linwood Lake?
- Fish species found in Linwood Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Linwood Lake is located in Anoka County, Minnesota.
When does Linwood Lake thaw?
- Linwood Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 31.
Does Linwood Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Linwood Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (159,956 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Linwood Lake?
- Linwood Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Linwood Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Linwood Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Anoka County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
87 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
MNPCA87 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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