North Twin Lake
North Twin Lake in Mahnomen County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 965.96 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 966 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
Next lake in Mahnomen County
Free interactive depth-contour map of North Twin Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 15 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
North Twin Lake is a 966-acre mesotrophic lake in Mahnomen County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Mahnomen County, North Twin Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-20. 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near North Twin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Twin Lake in Mahnomen 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 North Twin Lake
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Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for North Twin Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (7,656 cells/mL) on November 22, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 966 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 93% |
| Public Access | No |
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 North Twin 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
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-14 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 36.56 | 0.48 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 16.17 | 0.17 lb |
| Bluegill | 12.79 | 0.24 lb |
| IOD | 10.68 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 9.29 | — |
| CNM | 7.80 | — |
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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2024-08-14 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in North Twin Lake was conducted August 19th - 21st, 2024, by Detroit Lakes Fisheries Staff. Data was collected from 14 sampling stations evenly spaced around the lake. All stations were sampled with a backpack electrofishing unit, 6 were sampled with a 50-foot seine and 1…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for North Twin Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — North TwinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — North TwinFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-04-01 (2016) | 2002-04-16 (2002) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-19 (2002) | 2004-11-21 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2016-04-01
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of North Twin Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Naytahwaush WwslWhite Earth · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MN0064165Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 12 lakes in Mahnomen County
Nearby Lakes in Mahnomen County
Frequently asked questions about North Twin Lake
What is the water quality grade for North Twin Lake?
- North Twin Lake in Mahnomen County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 965.96 acres.
Is North Twin Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. North Twin Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is North Twin Lake?
- North Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 965.96 acres.
What fish are in North Twin Lake?
- Fish species found in North Twin Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. North Twin Lake is located in Mahnomen County, Minnesota.
When does North Twin Lake thaw?
- North Twin Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13.
Does North Twin Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for North Twin Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (7,656 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Explore North Twin Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Mahnomen County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
28 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX28 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate