Pickeral Lake
Pickeral Lake in Wright County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 20.25 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 20 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Wright 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 20-acre lake in Wright County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet (9-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 2024-10-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Pickeral 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 Pickeral Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pickeral Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pickeral Lake in Wright 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
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 whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Average Depth | 9.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 0.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 74% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Twin/Sylvia LakePublic
Fishing Pickeral Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1983-08-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Bass | 38.09 | 0.38 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 10.00 | 0.17 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.75 | 0.22 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.00 | 0.87 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 1.33 | 0.38 lb |
| Bluegill | 1.33 | 0.5 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1983-08-08 survey
Northern Pike abundance (3/gill net) was about average. Four age classes (2-5) were caught. Growth was somewhat slow. Only one Largemouth Bass (age 5) was caught. Bluegill numbers were low (1.3/ trap net) with only 8 and 10 year old fish caught. Large numbers of Pumpkinseed were present (8/trap net). Black Crappie…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pickeral Lake. 1 report 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
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.175 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.37 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
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 MN86-0279-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.59 km)
Graded lakes near Pickeral Lake
Pickeral Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Wright County
Frequently asked questions about Pickeral Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pickeral Lake?
- Pickeral Lake in Wright County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 20.25 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.
How deep is Pickeral Lake?
- Pickeral Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet and an average depth of 9.3 feet. The lake covers 20.25 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 Twin/Sylvia Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pickeral Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Wright 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
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Pickeral Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
19 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA19 samples · 2021–2024
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory