North Brown'S Lake
Stearns County, Minnesota312 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for North Brown'S Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 41 ft max depth
- Public access
North Brown'S Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 67.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L. Maximum depth: 41 ft. Surface area: 312.23 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 13, 2024 caught 4.62 walleye per gill net at North Brown'S Lake. DNR survey details →
North Brown'S Lake is a 312-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 41 feet (18-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, North Brown'S Lake ranks #26 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-02. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
North Brown'S Lake covers about 310 acres in Stearns County. The median ice-out date is April 6, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around North Brown'S Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What North Brown'S Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 6
- Deep water41 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Brown'S Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether North Brown'S 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 North Brown'S Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for North Brown'S Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus 67.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 31 µg/L. TSI 62.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 67.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 31µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 62 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about North Brown'S Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
North Brown'S Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in Oct (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (54°F) to its warmest (70°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 153 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North Brown'S Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 13, 2024 caught 4.62 walleye per gill net at North Brown'S Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Brown'S Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-13 (Targeted Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2024-06-13 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 33.12 | 4–8 in 2024-06-13 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluegill | 24.20 | 3–9 in 2024-06-13 | 0.18 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 15.77 | 0.1 lb | |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.44 | 8–12 in 2024-06-13 | 1.25 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 11.96 |
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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-06-13 survey
North Browns is a 324-acre lake located five miles north of Eden Valley in southern Stearns County. It has a maximum depth of 41 feet and a large watershed dominated by agriculture. . The lake is primarily managed for Walleye and has a public access is located on the northeast end of the lake. This survey was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for North Brown'S Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — North Brown'sFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — North Brown'sFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — North Brown'sPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
41 ft
Average depth
18.2 ft
Surface area
312 acres
Shoreline
2.8 mi
Littoral zone
42%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
43 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,083 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near North Brown'S Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Brown'S 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around North Brown'S Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near North Brown'S 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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing North Brown'S Lake
- → North Brown'S Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → North Brown'S Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → North Brown'S Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from North Brown'S Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+11.69 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+6.44 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 6
Earliest Mar 12, 2024 · Latest May 7, 2013
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 15, 2014 · Latest Jan 8, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Mar 28
2025
28 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
North Brown'S Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN73-0147-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about North Brown'S Lake
Where is North Brown'S Lake?
- North Brown'S Lake is a lake in Stearns County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of North Brown'S Lake?
- North Brown'S Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 67.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L. Maximum depth: 41 ft. Surface area: 312.23 acres.
Is North Brown'S Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Brown'S Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of North Brown'S Lake?
- North Brown'S Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October, from 153 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is North Brown'S Lake?
- North Brown'S Lake has a maximum depth of 41 feet and an average depth of 18.2 feet. The lake covers 312.23 acres.
What fish are in North Brown'S Lake?
- Fish species found in North Brown'S Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. North Brown'S Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North Brown'S Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 13, 2024 caught 4.62 walleye per gill net at North Brown'S Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Brown'S Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does North Brown'S Lake thaw?
- North Brown'S Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 6. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 239 days.
Can I fish at North Brown'S Lake?
- Public access to North Brown'S Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 North Brown'S Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
195 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
MNPCA195 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate