Nixon Lake
Nixon Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 67 ft. Surface area: 59.57 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 54°F
- Max depth
- 67 ft
- Area
- 60 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 9
- Open water
- 239 days
Next lake in Wright County
Nixon Lake is a 60-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Wright County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 67 feet (14-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 50 other monitored lakes in Wright County, Nixon Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-15. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Nixon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Nixon Lake in Wright 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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Water Temperature
Nixon Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 54°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 54°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 203 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Nixon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 67 ft |
| Average Depth | 14.4 ft |
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 55% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Nixon LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Nixon Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 22.05 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 7.76 | 0.64 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 5.10 | 0.52 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.82 | 0.84 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.59 | 1.51 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 3.90 | 0.59 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
Black Bullhead
Yellow Bass
Largemouth Bass
From the 2021-06-28 survey
Nixon Lake is a small 56-acre natural environmental lake located 4 miles south of the town of Clearwater in Wright County. The lake has a small watershed, good water quality, and a diverse aquatic plant community. It has a maximum depth of 67 feet and an average summer water clarity depth of 10 feet. The lake is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Nixon Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — NixonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Nixon (1938)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — NixonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (12 observations).
Estimated open water season: 239 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-03-31 (2007) | 2008-04-22 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-25 (2003) | 2004-12-14 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-04-22
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 51 lakes in Wright County
Nearby Lakes in Wright County
Frequently asked questions about Nixon Lake
What is the water quality grade for Nixon Lake?
- Nixon Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 67 ft. Surface area: 59.57 acres.
Is Nixon Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Nixon Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Nixon Lake?
- Nixon Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in August, from 203 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Nixon Lake?
- Nixon Lake has a maximum depth of 67 feet and an average depth of 14.4 feet. The lake covers 59.57 acres.
What fish are in Nixon Lake?
- Fish species found in Nixon Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Nixon Lake is located in Wright County, Minnesota.
When does Nixon Lake thaw?
- Nixon Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 9. Ice typically forms around Dec 4. The open water season is approximately 239 days.
Are there boat ramps on Nixon Lake?
- Nixon Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Nixon Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Nixon Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
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