Lower Trelipe Lake
Cass County, Minnesota618 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Lower Trelipe Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 32 ft max depth
- Public access
Lower Trelipe Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 618.01 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 14, 2023 caught 2.83 walleye per gill net at Lower Trelipe Lake. DNR survey details →
Lower Trelipe Lake is a 618-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Lower Trelipe Lake ranks #91 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lower Trelipe Lake covers about 620 acres in Cass County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 15, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Lower Trelipe Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Lower Trelipe Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 15
- Deep water32 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lower Trelipe Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lower Trelipe 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 Lower Trelipe Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Lower Trelipe Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 11.9 µg/L. TSI 51.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 23µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 11.9µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 51 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lower Trelipe Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lower Trelipe Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (72°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 79 field readings (2021–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Trelipe Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 14, 2023 caught 2.83 walleye per gill net at Lower Trelipe Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lower Trelipe Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-14 (Standard Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2023-08-14 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 19.44 | ||
| Yellow Perch | 13.08 | 5–9 in 2023-08-14 | 0.2 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 12.03 | ||
| Black Bullhead | 11.22 | 8 in 2019-05-28 | 0.75 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.18 | 2–10 in 2023-08-14 | 0.28 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.
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
From the 2023-08-14 survey
Lower Trelipe Lake is a 618-acre lake with 6.63 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 32 feet located east of Longville, MN. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) owned public access is located on the east shore. The MNDNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lower Trelipe Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Lower TrelipeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lower Trelipe (1501)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Lower TrelipeFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lower TrelipePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
32 ft
Surface area
618 acres
Shoreline
6.6 mi
Littoral zone
57%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
22 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,299 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lower Trelipe 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 Lower Trelipe Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Trelipe Lake in Cass 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 Trelipe 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 →
Follow Lower Trelipe Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lower Trelipe Lake
- → Lower Trelipe Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Lower Trelipe Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Lower Trelipe Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Lower Trelipe Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.9 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+3.08 µg/L/yr5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 15
Earliest Apr 1, 2016 · Latest May 4, 2023
Typical ice-in
Nov 28
Earliest Nov 27, 2007 · Latest Dec 1, 2006
Most recent ice-out
May 4
2023
11 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Trelipe 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.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN11-0129-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Trelipe Lake
Where is Lower Trelipe Lake?
- Lower Trelipe Lake is a lake in Cass County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lower Trelipe Lake?
- Lower Trelipe Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 618.01 acres.
Is Lower Trelipe Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lower Trelipe Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lower Trelipe Lake?
- Lower Trelipe Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, from 79 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Trelipe Lake?
- Lower Trelipe Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 618.01 acres.
What fish are in Lower Trelipe Lake?
- Fish species found in Lower Trelipe Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lower Trelipe Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lower Trelipe Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 14, 2023 caught 2.83 walleye per gill net at Lower Trelipe Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lower Trelipe Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Lower Trelipe Lake thaw?
- Lower Trelipe Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 227 days.
Are there boat ramps on Lower Trelipe Lake?
- Lower Trelipe Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lower Trelipe Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lower Trelipe Lake?
- Lower Trelipe 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 Lower Trelipe 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 Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Brainerd Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Lower Trelipe Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Lower Trelipe Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
161 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA161 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 (1)
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
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