Owl Lake
Owl Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 90.37 acres.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 90 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 212 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Why Owl 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 Owl 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.
Owl Lake is a 90-acre lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet (5-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including black bullhead, brown bullhead, and northern pike. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-30. 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 Owl Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Owl Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Owl Lake in Hubbard 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 Owl Lake
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Water Temperature
Owl Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 49 field readings (2022–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Owl Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Average Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 90 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 86% |
| 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 Owl Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2010-07-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 20.02 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.84 | 0.28 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 10.79 | 0.61 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 8.49 | 0.2 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.55 | 2.19 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.18 | 0.39 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
Brown Bullhead
Pumpkinseed
Northern Pike
From the 2010-07-28 survey
Owl Lake is located in Hubbard County, one mile northeast of Nevis. Owl Lake has a surface area of 85 acres and a maximum depth of 26 feet. Owl Lake is shallow, with most of the lake less than 15 feet in depth. There is no public access on the lake. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Owl Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OwlFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.359 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.89 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.15 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (44 observations).
Estimated open water season: 212 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-23 (2012) | 2013-05-06 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2020-10-25 (2020) | 2024-11-26 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-13
EPA Impairment Status
Owl Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN29-0072-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.33 km)
Graded lakes near Owl Lake
Owl Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Owl Lake
What is the water quality grade for Owl Lake?
- Owl Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 90.37 acres.
Is Owl Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Owl 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 Owl Lake?
- Owl Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 49 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Owl Lake?
- Owl Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet and an average depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 90.37 acres.
What fish are in Owl Lake?
- Fish species found in Owl Lake include black bullhead, brown bullhead, northern pike, pumpkinseed. Owl Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Owl Lake thaw?
- Owl Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 13. The open water season is approximately 212 days.
Explore Owl Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
298 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
MNPCA298 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate