Richardson Lake
Richardson Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 47 ft. Surface area: 119.37 acres.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 47 ft
- Area
- 119 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
- Open water
- 241 days
Next lake in Meeker County
Why Richardson 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 Richardson 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.
Richardson Lake is a 119-acre lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 47 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Richardson 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 Richardson Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Richardson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Richardson Lake in Meeker 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 Richardson 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 →
Water Temperature
Richardson Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 65°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 100 field readings (2018–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Richardson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 47 ft |
| Surface Area | 119 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Dunns LakePublic
- Richardson LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Richardson Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-01 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 36.62 | 0.2 lb |
| White Crappie | 35.66 | 0.27 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 22.86 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 21.78 | 0.7 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.96 | 0.23 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.46 | 0.36 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 Crappie
White Crappie
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-07-01 survey
Richardson is a small-sized lake (119 acres) located north of the city of Darwin in Meeker County. A state-owned access with gravel parking and a single cement boat ramp is available on the south shore. Richardson has approximately two miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of forty-seven feet. The Minnesota…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Richardson Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RichardsonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — RichardsonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — RichardsonPublic 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 | ↑ Improving | +0.287 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (51 observations).
Estimated open water season: 241 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-01 (2000) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-13 (2018) | 2024-01-11 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-24
EPA Impairment Status
Richardson 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 MN47-0088-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Richardson Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Alpha Foods LlcForest City Township · 2.8 mi away · NPDES MN0069230
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.
Graded lakes near Richardson Lake
Richardson Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Richardson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Richardson Lake?
- Richardson Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 47 ft. Surface area: 119.37 acres.
Is Richardson Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Richardson 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 Richardson Lake?
- Richardson Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 100 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Richardson Lake?
- Richardson Lake has a maximum depth of 47 feet. The lake covers 119.37 acres.
What fish are in Richardson Lake?
- Fish species found in Richardson Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Richardson Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
When does Richardson Lake thaw?
- Richardson Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 241 days.
Are there boat ramps on Richardson Lake?
- Richardson Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dunns Lake, Richardson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Richardson Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Meeker 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 Richardson Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
84 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
MNPCA84 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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