Pearl Lake
Pearl Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 753.09 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 753 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
- Open water
- 234 days
Next lake in Stearns County
Pearl Lake is a 753-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet (10-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Pearl Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 20.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Pearl Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pearl 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.
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Water Temperature
Pearl Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in Apr (about 46°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 284 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pearl Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Average Depth | 9.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 753 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 68% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pearl LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pearl Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-21 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 114.47 | — |
| BNS | 62.77 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 45.65 | 0.08 lb |
| Bluegill | 25.02 | 0.17 lb |
| BKF | 21.21 | — |
| Yellow Bass | 13.96 | 0.82 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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
From the 2025-07-21 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Pearl Lake was conducted on July 21, 2025, by Sauk Rapids fisheries staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pearl Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PearlFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PearlFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PearlPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.002 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -6.54 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.22 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (19 observations).
Estimated open water season: 234 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-04 (2024) | 2013-05-02 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2024-12-05 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-31
EPA Impairment Status
Pearl Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN73-0037-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 32 lakes in Stearns County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pearl Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Pearl Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 753.09 acres.
Is Pearl Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Pearl Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 13 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 284 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet and an average depth of 9.8 feet. The lake covers 753.09 acres.
What fish are in Pearl Lake?
- Fish species found in Pearl Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Pearl Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Pearl Lake thaw?
- Pearl Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 234 days.
Are there boat ramps on Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pearl Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pearl Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Stearns County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Pearl Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
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Compare Pearl Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
67 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA67 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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