Long Lake
Long Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 163.77 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 164 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Meeker County
Long Lake is a 164-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Meeker County, Long Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Long Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 33 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 33 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Long Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Long Lake in Meeker 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.
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Water Temperature
Long Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 72°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 163 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 164 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 65% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Long LakePublic
- Spring LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Long Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-06-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 45.76 | 0.11 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.64 | 0.11 lb |
| BLH | 10.16 | 0.43 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.02 | 0.95 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 7.33 | 0.81 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.34 | 0.68 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
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Brown Bullhead
From the 2018-06-25 survey
A standard survey was conducted at Long Lake near Dassel, beginning on June 25, 2018, to monitor the fish population. Long is a class 34 lake and net catches were compared to similar lakes around the state. The 2014 lake management plan (LMP) listed Bluegill and Largemouth Bass as the primary management species while…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Long Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LongFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LongPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.191 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.84 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.45 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Long 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 MN47-0026-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 19 lakes in Meeker County
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Long Lake
What is the water quality grade for Long Lake?
- Long Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 163.77 acres.
Is Long Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Long Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Long Lake?
- Long Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 163 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Long Lake?
- Long Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 163.77 acres.
What fish are in Long Lake?
- Fish species found in Long Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Long Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Long Lake?
- Long Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Long Lake, Spring Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Long Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
77 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA77 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory