Pepin Lake
Pepin Lake in Pepin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 12299.45 acres.
Minnesota DNR surveys at Pepin Lake average 22.73 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 25 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 2, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–27 inches. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Max depth
- 60 ft
- Area
- 12,299 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 29
- Open water
- 254 days
Next lake in Pepin County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Free interactive depth-contour map of Pepin Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Why Pepin Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: 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 Pepin 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.
Pepin Lake is a 12,299-acre lake in Pepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 60 feet (21-foot average). The lake supports 47 documented fish species including American eel, bigmouth buffalo, and black bullhead. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Pepin Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Pepin Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Pepin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pepin Lake in Pepin 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 Pepin 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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Pepin Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
Minnesota DNR surveys at Pepin Lake average 22.73 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 25 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 2, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–27 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Pepin Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
25 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-02 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Drum | 30.96 | 0.31 lb |
| Walleye | 22.73 | 1.52 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 20.19 | 1.01 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This 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.
Freshwater Drum
Walleye
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2023-06-02 survey
Anglers in 2021-2023 experienced "low" summer and fall water levels not seen since the late 1980s. These levels presented challenges to anglers whose experience on Pool 4 only took place during the last decade or so when "high water" has been the norm, but strong populations of multiple gamefish species particularly…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pepin Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PepinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PepinPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 60 ft |
| Average Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 12,299 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 54.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 66% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Deer IslandPublic
- Ohuta Municipal ParkPublic
- Roschen ParkPublic
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 Pepin 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.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (164 observations).
Estimated open water season: 254 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-02-29 (2000) | 1843-05-20 (1843) |
| Ice-In | 1882-11-02 (1882) | 1890-12-30 (1890) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-29
EPA Impairment Status
Pepin 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 MN25-0001-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Pepin Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger.
- Lake City WwtpLake City · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MN0020664Major
- Federal-Mogul Powertrain LlcLake City · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MN0001147
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.
Graded lakes near Pepin Lake
Pepin Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Pepin County
Frequently asked questions about Pepin Lake
Where is Pepin Lake?
- Pepin Lake is a lake in Pepin County, Minnesota. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Pepin Lake?
- Pepin Lake in Pepin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 12299.45 acres.
Is Pepin Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Pepin Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Pepin Lake?
- Pepin Lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet and an average depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 12299.45 acres.
What fish are in Pepin Lake?
- Fish species found in Pepin Lake include American eel, bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), burbot, carpsucker, channel catfish, common carp, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, gizzard shad, golden redhorse, goldeye, greater redhorse, green sunfish, highfin carpsucker, hybrid crappie, hybrid sunfish, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, longnose gar, mooneye, northern hog sucker, northern pike, pumpkinseed, quillback, redhorse, river carpsucker, river redhorse, rock bass, sauger, shorthead redhorse, shortnose gar, shovelnose sturgeon, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, smallmouth buffalo, spotted sucker, walleye, walleye/sauger, white bass, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Pepin Lake is located in Pepin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pepin Lake?
- Minnesota DNR surveys at Pepin Lake average 22.73 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 25 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 2, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–27 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Pepin Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Pepin Lake thaw?
- Pepin Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 29. Ice typically forms around Dec 8. The open water season is approximately 254 days.
Are there boat ramps on Pepin Lake?
- Pepin Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Deer Island, Ohuta Municipal Park, Roschen Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pepin Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Pepin Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
97 measurements from 5 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
MNPCA97 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (5)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate