Manuella Lake
Manuella Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 292.52 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 51 ft
- Area
- 293 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 11
- Open water
- 251 days
Next lake in Meeker County
Why Manuella 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 Manuella 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.
Manuella Lake is a 293-acre lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 51 feet (22-foot average). Overall water quality is improving 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-10. 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 Manuella Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Manuella Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Manuella 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Manuella Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Manuella Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 69°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 127 field readings (2017–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Manuella Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 51 ft |
| Average Depth | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 293 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 39% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Manuella LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Manuella 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
22 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-26 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 24.83 | 0.12 lb |
| BKS | 13.01 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 11.19 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 11.03 | 0.14 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 10.93 | 0.08 lb |
| BNS | 10.50 | — |
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
Green Sunfish
From the 2025-08-26 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species for Lake Manuella was conducted on August 26th and 27th, 2025 by Hutchinson area fisheries Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Manuella Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ManuellaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ManuellaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ManuellaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.136 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (18 observations).
Estimated open water season: 251 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-10 (2024) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2003-12-02 (2003) | 2024-01-08 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-22
EPA Impairment Status
Manuella 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 MN47-0068-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.46 km)
Graded lakes near Manuella Lake
Manuella Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Manuella Lake
What is the water quality grade for Manuella Lake?
- Manuella Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 292.52 acres.
Is Manuella Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Manuella 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 Manuella Lake?
- Manuella Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 127 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Manuella Lake?
- Manuella Lake has a maximum depth of 51 feet and an average depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 292.52 acres.
What fish are in Manuella Lake?
- Fish species found in Manuella Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Manuella Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
When does Manuella Lake thaw?
- Manuella Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 11. Ice typically forms around Dec 18. The open water season is approximately 251 days.
Are there boat ramps on Manuella Lake?
- Manuella Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Manuella Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Manuella Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
102 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA102 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate