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LakeQuality

North Twin Lake

B
Grade B — Good
Good · #8 of 55 lakes in the county · Oligotrophic · 129 acres · from A
Limited DataOligotrophic

North Twin Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 10.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 129 acres.

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on North Twin Lake. DNR survey details →

Max depth
27 ft
Area
129 acres
Type
Oligotrophic
Trend
Stable
Public access
Yes

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North Twin Lake is a 129-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, North Twin Lake ranks #8 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Grade only

Limited 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.

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels

Compare the safest swimming lakes near St. Paul

Get alerts for North Twin Lake

Water Quality Grade: B (Good)

No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 10.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)No recent samples
Phosphorus10.1 µg/LGood
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No recent samples
Trophic State Index (TSI)37Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Where to stay near North Twin Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Twin Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin — 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

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 Wisconsin’s top lakes →

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on North Twin Lake.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades North Twin Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Abundant)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)Walleye(Present)

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth27 ft
Surface Area129 acres
Public AccessYes

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
Shoreline
2.1 mi
Elevation
1,050 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access
  • North Twin LakePublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

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.

Chinese Mystery SnailCurly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilPurple Loosestrife

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.226 m/yr5
Phosphorus Improving-15.92 µg/L/yr4
See year-by-year chart →

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

North Twin Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Amery (completed 1888), built primarily for recreation on the Apple River; gravity-type dam, 13 ft tall and 190 ft long.

Surface area
639 ac
Normal storage
3,500 ac-ft
Max storage
4,800 ac-ft
Drainage area
134 sq mi
Hazard class
High
Owner
City Of Amery

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00172 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.97 km)

County Ranking

Ranked #8 of 55 lakes in Polk County

Nearby Lakes in Polk County

Frequently asked questions about North Twin Lake

Where is North Twin Lake?

North Twin Lake is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.

What is the water quality grade for North Twin Lake?

North Twin Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 10.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 129 acres.

Is North Twin Lake safe to swim in?

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. North Twin Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

How deep is North Twin Lake?

North Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 129 acres.

What fish are in North Twin Lake?

Fish species found in North Twin Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. North Twin Lake is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.

What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North Twin Lake?

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on North Twin Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades North Twin Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.

Are there boat ramps on North Twin Lake?

North Twin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Twin Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Where this data comes from

3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWIDNR_WQX3 samples · 2025

Analytical methods

  • Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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)

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory