Manuella Lake
Meeker County, Minnesota293 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Manuella Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 51 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Manuella Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 292.52 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 26, 2025 caught 19.57 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Manuella Lake. DNR survey details →
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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Manuella Lake covers about 290 acres in Meeker County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 11, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Manuella Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Manuella Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 11
- Deep water51 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Manuella 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 Manuella Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Manuella Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. TSI 44.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 44 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Manuella Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Manuella Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (57°F) to its warmest (69°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 26, 2025 caught 19.57 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Manuella Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Manuella Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
22 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-26 (Targeted Survey).
22 surveys on file · most recent 2025-08-26 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 24.83 | 2–8 in 2025-08-13 | 0.12 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 11.19 | ||
| Yellow Perch | 11.03 | 5–6 in 2020-07-29 | 0.14 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 10.93 | 4–5 in 2025-05-19 | 0.08 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.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
51 ft
Average depth
22 ft
Surface area
293 acres
Shoreline
3 mi
Littoral zone
39%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
18 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,070 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Manuella 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 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
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 Manuella 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 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 11
Earliest Mar 10, 2024 · Latest Apr 30, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 18
Earliest Dec 2, 2003 · Latest Jan 8, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Mar 22
2025
18 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Manuella Lake
Where is Manuella Lake?
- Manuella Lake is a lake in Meeker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Manuella Lake?
- Manuella Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 292.52 acres.
Is Manuella Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Manuella Lake?
- Manuella Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in October, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Manuella Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 26, 2025 caught 19.57 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Manuella Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Manuella Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Manuella Lake?
- Manuella 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 Manuella 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 Meeker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Manuella Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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)
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
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