Perch Lake
Perch Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5.9 ft
- Mean depth
- ~11 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Perch Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 11 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Crow Wing County, Perch Lake ranks #35 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-23. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 5.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Perch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Perch Lake in Crow Wing 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~11 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Perch Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Perch Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.007 m/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Perch 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 MN18-0305-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.84 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #35 of 85 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Perch Lake
What is the water quality grade for Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.5 µg/L.
Is Perch Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Perch Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Perch Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Perch Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 11 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
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Where this data comes from
13 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA13 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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