Lower Spunk Lake
Lower Spunk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 27.5 ft. Surface area: 179.08 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 27.5 ft
- Area
- 179 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 10
- Open water
- 234 days
Next lake in Stearns County
Why Lower Spunk 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 Lower Spunk 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.
Lower Spunk Lake is a 179-acre lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 feet (5-foot average). The lake supports 13 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 2025-09-30. 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 Lower Spunk Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lower Spunk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Spunk Lake in Stearns 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 Lower Spunk Lake
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Water Temperature
Lower Spunk Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 76 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Spunk Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27.5 ft |
| Average Depth | 5.1 ft |
| Surface Area | 179 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 72% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lower Spunk LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lower Spunk 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
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BKS | 90.80 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 28.51 | — |
| Bluegill | 25.41 | 0.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 9.72 | 1.68 lb |
| BCS | 7.61 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.16 | 0.93 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
Northern Pike
Largemouth Bass
From the 2023-06-12 survey
Lower Spunk Lake is a 280-acre lake located partly within the city limits of Avon in north central Stearns County. There is a public access located on the south side of the lake with room for eight vehicle/trailers. The water quality of Lower Spunk Lake is generally very good with a 10-year average Secchi reading of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lower Spunk Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Lower SpunkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lower Spunk (0280)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lower SpunkPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.065 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (16 observations).
Estimated open water season: 234 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2004-04-03 (2004) | 2018-05-02 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-18 (2002) | 2007-12-27 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-17
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Spunk 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 MN73-0117-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.63 km)
Graded lakes near Lower Spunk Lake
Lower Spunk Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Spunk Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lower Spunk Lake?
- Lower Spunk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 27.5 ft. Surface area: 179.08 acres.
Is Lower Spunk Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lower Spunk 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 Lower Spunk Lake?
- Lower Spunk Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 76 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Spunk Lake?
- Lower Spunk Lake has a maximum depth of 27.5 feet and an average depth of 5.1 feet. The lake covers 179.08 acres.
What fish are in Lower Spunk Lake?
- Fish species found in Lower Spunk Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lower Spunk Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Lower Spunk Lake thaw?
- Lower Spunk Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 10. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 234 days.
Are there boat ramps on Lower Spunk Lake?
- Lower Spunk Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lower Spunk Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
107 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
MNPCA107 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic 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
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