Pickeral Lake
Pickeral Lake in Freeborn County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 587.58 acres.
- Clarity
- 1 ft
- Typical in August
- 79°F
- Max depth
- 6 ft
- Area
- 588 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Freeborn County
Why Pickeral 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 Pickeral 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.
Pickeral Lake is a 588-acre lake in Freeborn County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 6 feet (4-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-31. 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 Pickeral Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Pickeral Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pickeral Lake in Freeborn 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 Pickeral Lake
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Water Temperature
Pickeral Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 19 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pickeral Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 6 ft |
| Average Depth | 3.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 588 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pickerel LakePublic
Fishing Pickeral Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2013-07-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 332.62 | 0.21 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 118.50 | — |
| Common Carp | 50.30 | 1.8 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 27.50 | 0.17 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.61 | 0.22 lb |
| Black Crappie | 7.52 | 0.38 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.
Black Bullhead
Common Carp
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2013-07-15 survey
Pickeral Lake is a shallow, 620 acre lake in Freeborn County. Mean depth is 3.5 feet and maximum depth is 6 feet. The city of Albert Lea is immediately northeast of Pickeral Lake. A city-owned earthen public access is located on the southeast corner of the lake off highway 69. The lake was reclaimed in fall of 2009…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pickeral Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PickeralFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PickeralFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PickeralPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.04 m/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Pickeral 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 MN24-0025-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Pickeral Lake
Pickeral Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Freeborn County
Frequently asked questions about Pickeral Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pickeral Lake?
- Pickeral Lake in Freeborn County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 587.58 acres.
Is Pickeral Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Pickeral 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 Pickeral Lake?
- Pickeral Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August, from 19 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pickeral Lake?
- Pickeral Lake has a maximum depth of 6 feet and an average depth of 3.5 feet. The lake covers 587.58 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Pickeral Lake?
- Pickeral Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pickerel Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pickeral Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Freeborn County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA23 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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