Mcfarland Lake
Mcfarland Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Surface area: 39.53 acres.
- Clarity
- 17 ft
- Area
- 40 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cook County
Mcfarland Lake is a 40-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including northern pike, smallmouth bass, and white sucker. Public access is available. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Mcfarland Lake ranks #25 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 17 ft down. Phosphorus level: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Mcfarland Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mcfarland Lake in Cook 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
The available depth estimate for Mcfarland Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mcfarland 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
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2011-06-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 7.90 | 0.26 lb |
| White Sucker | 2.76 | 2.81 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.25 | 1.4 lb |
| Walleye | 2.00 | 0.9 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1.00 | 1.97 lb |
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
White Sucker
Northern Pike
Walleye
From the 2011-06-08 survey
This was the first of two assessments included in the 2008 lake management plan to determine whether long range goals for northern pike and yellow perch in this lake continued to be met. The northern pike gill net catch in 2011 met the long range goal for the species (a minimum of 2.8 fish/set), and was similar to…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mcfarland Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little JohnFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little John (1671)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little JohnPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.388 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Mcfarland Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN16-0027-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #25 of 44 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Mcfarland Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mcfarland Lake?
- Mcfarland Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 17 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Surface area: 39.53 acres.
Is Mcfarland Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Mcfarland Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Mcfarland Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Mcfarland Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 39.53 acres.
What fish are in Mcfarland Lake?
- Fish species found in Mcfarland Lake include northern pike, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow perch. Mcfarland Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
80 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA80 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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