Lower Twin Lake
Wadena County, Minnesota252 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Lower Twin Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 26 ft max depth
- Public access
Lower Twin Lake in Wadena County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 10, 2023 caught 4.50 walleye per gill net at Lower Twin Lake. DNR survey details →
Lower Twin Lake is a 252-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wadena County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet. 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. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lower Twin Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing21 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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 Twin Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lower Twin 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 Twin Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Lower Twin 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 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 19.6 µg/L. TSI 55.
| 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 | 35µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 19.6µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 55 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lower Twin Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lower Twin Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (50°F) to its warmest (74°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 10, 2023 caught 4.50 walleye per gill net at Lower Twin Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lower Twin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-10 (Standard Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2023-07-10 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 33.87 | 4–8 in 2023-07-10 | 0.11 lb |
| Shorthead Redhorse | 4.85 | 8–21 in 2023-07-10 | 2.66 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.66 | 8–20 in 2023-07-10 | 2.03 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.58 | 6–8 in 2023-07-10 | 0.22 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
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
Lake Details
Max depth
26 ft
Surface area
252 acres
Shoreline
2.6 mi
Littoral zone
69%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
630 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,358 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Lower Twin Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Twin 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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.64 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.43 µg/L/yr6 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN80-0030-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Wadena County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Twin Lake
Where is Lower Twin Lake?
- Lower Twin Lake is a lake in Wadena 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 Twin Lake?
- Lower Twin Lake in Wadena County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lower Twin Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lower Twin Lake?
- Lower Twin Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lower Twin Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 10, 2023 caught 4.50 walleye per gill net at Lower Twin Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lower Twin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at Lower Twin Lake?
- Public access to Lower Twin Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Twin Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Wadena County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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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)
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