Piersons Lake
Piersons Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 266.91 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 267 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 5
- Open water
- 241 days
Next lake in Carver County
Piersons Lake is a 267-acre mesotrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 37 other monitored lakes in Carver County, Piersons Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-18. 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 9.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Piersons Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Piersons Lake in Carver 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
Piersons Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 69°F) and coldest in Nov (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 311 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Piersons Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 267 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pierson LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Piersons 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-04 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 97.02 | 1.28 lb |
| Bluegill | 69.29 | 0.15 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.34 | 0.23 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 4.94 | 0.66 lb |
| Common Carp | 4.66 | 3.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.56 | 2.2 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Yellow Bass
From the 2025-08-04 survey
Piersons Lake is a 267-acre lake with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Piersons is located southwest of the City of Victoria in central Carver County. Public water access is provided by the DNR (3 vehicle parking spaces and 8 vehicle/trailer parking spaces). The lake is primarily managed for Northern Pike and Largemouth…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Piersons Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PiersonsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PiersonsFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PiersonsPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.002 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -45 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (60 observations).
Estimated open water season: 241 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-05 (2024) | 2013-04-29 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1986-11-15 (1986) | 2015-12-29 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-30
EPA Impairment Status
Piersons 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 MN10-0051-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.1 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Piersons Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Laketown Community WwtpChaska · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MN0054399Recent violation
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 38 lakes in Carver County
Nearby Lakes in Carver County
Frequently asked questions about Piersons Lake
What is the water quality grade for Piersons Lake?
- Piersons Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 266.91 acres.
Is Piersons Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Piersons Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Piersons Lake?
- Piersons Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 311 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Piersons Lake?
- Piersons Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 266.91 acres.
What fish are in Piersons Lake?
- Fish species found in Piersons Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Piersons Lake is located in Carver County, Minnesota.
When does Piersons Lake thaw?
- Piersons Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 241 days.
Are there boat ramps on Piersons Lake?
- Piersons Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pierson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Piersons Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
80 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA80 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate