Lower Twin Lake
Lower Twin Lake in Wadena County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 251.91 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 252 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lower Twin Lake →
Next lake in Wadena County
Lower Twin Lake is a 252-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wadena County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 21 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Wadena County, Lower Twin Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lower Twin Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 19.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lower Twin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Twin Lake in Wadena 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 Lower Twin Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Twin Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lower Twin Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Apr (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 99 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Twin Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 252 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 69% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Blueberry LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lower Twin 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: 2023-07-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 33.87 | 0.11 lb |
| Shorthead Redhorse | 4.85 | 2.66 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.66 | 2.03 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.58 | 0.22 lb |
| RHS | 4.22 | 4.95 lb |
| HHC | 4.00 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
Shorthead Redhorse
White Sucker
Bluegill
From the 2023-07-10 survey
Lower Twin Lake is located in northern Wadena County, just south of the Hubbard County Line. Lower Twin has a surface area of 252 acres and a maximum depth of 26 feet. A state-owned public access is located on the channel (Shell River) connecting Upper and Lower Twin Lakes. The Shell River flows through Upper and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lower Twin 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 TwinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lower Twin (1281)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Lower TwinFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lower TwinPublic 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 | → Stable | -0.034 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.64 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Twin Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN80-0030-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Wadena County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lower Twin 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.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Wadena County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Twin Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lower Twin Lake?
- Lower Twin Lake in Wadena County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 251.91 acres.
Is Lower Twin 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. Lower Twin Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 19.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lower Twin Lake?
- Lower Twin Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 99 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Twin Lake?
- Lower Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 251.91 acres.
What fish are in Lower Twin Lake?
- Fish species found in Lower Twin Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, golden redhorse, greater redhorse, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, river redhorse, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lower Twin Lake is located in Wadena County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Lower Twin Lake?
- Lower Twin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Blueberry Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lower Twin Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Wadena County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Where this data comes from
87 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
MNPCA87 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)
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