Perch Lake
Perch Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 84.37 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 84 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Polk County
Perch Lake is a 84-acre mesotrophic lake in Polk County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet (10-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Perch Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-15. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Perch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Perch Lake in Polk 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
Perch Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 27 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Perch Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Average Depth | 9.7 ft |
| Surface Area | 84 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 73% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Perch Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.515 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -37.75 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.35 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 19 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Perch Lake
What is the water quality grade for Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 84.37 acres.
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 3.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 27 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet and an average depth of 9.7 feet. The lake covers 84.37 acres.
Explore Perch Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder