Middle Spunk Lake
Middle Spunk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 81 ft. Surface area: 235.74 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 81 ft
- Area
- 236 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 11
- Open water
- 236 days
Next lake in Stearns County
Why Middle Spunk 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 Middle Spunk 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.
Middle Spunk Lake is a 236-acre lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 81 feet (28-foot average). The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. 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 Middle Spunk Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Middle Spunk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Middle Spunk Lake in Stearns 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 Middle Spunk Lake
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Water Temperature
Middle Spunk Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 59°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 73°F) and coldest in Jun (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 67 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Middle Spunk Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 81 ft |
| Average Depth | 27.6 ft |
| Surface Area | 236 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 34% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Middle Spunk LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Middle Spunk 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
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-19 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 22.91 | 0.11 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 16.00 | — |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 13.91 | 0.67 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.13 | 0.92 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.61 | 2.42 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 3.67 | 0.19 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.
Bluegill
Tullibee (Cisco)
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2023-06-19 survey
Middle Spunk Lake is a 236-acre lake located within the city limits of Avon in central Stearns County. It has a maximum depth of 81 feet and a large watershed dominated by row crops, forest, and pasture. A city owned public access is located on the northeast corner of the lake. A standard summer survey was conducted…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Middle Spunk Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Middle SpunkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Middle Spunk (1992)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Middle SpunkFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Middle SpunkPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.017 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (16 observations).
Estimated open water season: 236 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-20 (2012) | 2008-04-24 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-26 (2003) | 2008-12-12 (2008) |
Most recent ice-out: 2012-03-20
EPA Impairment Status
Middle Spunk 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 MN73-0117-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.64 km)
Graded lakes near Middle Spunk Lake
Middle Spunk Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Middle Spunk Lake
What is the water quality grade for Middle Spunk Lake?
- Middle Spunk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 81 ft. Surface area: 235.74 acres.
Is Middle Spunk Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Middle Spunk 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 Middle Spunk Lake?
- Middle Spunk Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, from 67 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Middle Spunk Lake?
- Middle Spunk Lake has a maximum depth of 81 feet and an average depth of 27.6 feet. The lake covers 235.74 acres.
What fish are in Middle Spunk Lake?
- Fish species found in Middle Spunk Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Middle Spunk Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Middle Spunk Lake thaw?
- Middle Spunk Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 11. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 236 days.
Are there boat ramps on Middle Spunk Lake?
- Middle Spunk Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Middle Spunk Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
86 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA86 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate