Schneider Lake
Stearns County, Minnesota60 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Schneider Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- zebra mussel
- 52 ft max depth
Schneider Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 64 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 59.61 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 30, 2024 caught 31.15 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Schneider Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–19 inches. DNR survey details →
Schneider Lake is a 60-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 52 feet (19-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Schneider Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Schneider Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12 ft of visibility
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 14
- Deep water52 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Schneider Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Schneider Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Schneider Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Schneider Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Phosphorus 64 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 18 µg/L. TSI 55.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 12ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 64µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 18µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 55 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Schneider Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Schneider Lake typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 57°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 58°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (50°F) to its warmest (58°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 282 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Schneider Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 30, 2024 caught 31.15 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Schneider Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Schneider Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-30 (Targeted Survey).
8 surveys on file · most recent 2024-07-30 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 15.60 | 8 in 2021-08-10 | 0.23 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.11 | 4–19 in 2024-07-30 | 1 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.25 | 5 in 2021-08-10 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.35 | 7–12 in 2018-07-25 | 0.43 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 3.56 | 7 in 2018-07-25 | 0.22 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 3.23 | 20–24 in 2021-08-10 | 2.8 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
From the 2024-07-30 survey
The Sauk River Chain of Lakes (SRCL) is located in south-central Stearns County, near the city of Richmond. A dam built in the early 1900's on the Sauk River in Cold Spring created the SRCL a reservoir consisting of nine lakes and approximately 3,200 acres of water. The Sauk River drains a large portion of central…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Schneider Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SchneiderFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
52 ft
Average depth
19.3 ft
Surface area
60 acres
Shoreline
2 mi
Littoral zone
44%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
No
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Schneider Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Schneider Lake in Stearns 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Schneider Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Schneider Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Schneider Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Schneider 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+15.25 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+14.25 µg/L/yr3 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 14
Earliest Mar 18, 2000 · Latest Apr 23, 2008
Typical ice-in
Dec 2
Earliest Nov 12, 1995 · Latest Dec 16, 2002
Most recent ice-out
Mar 29
2025
31 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Schneider Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN73-0082-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Schneider Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Cold Spring Granite-West PlantCold Spring · 0.3 mi away · NPDES MN0062481
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.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Schneider Lake
Where is Schneider Lake?
- Schneider Lake is a lake in Stearns County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Schneider Lake?
- Schneider Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 64 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 59.61 acres.
Is Schneider Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Schneider Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Schneider Lake?
- Schneider Lake typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October, from 282 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Schneider Lake?
- Schneider Lake has a maximum depth of 52 feet and an average depth of 19.3 feet. The lake covers 59.61 acres.
What fish are in Schneider Lake?
- Fish species found in Schneider Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Schneider Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Schneider Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 30, 2024 caught 31.15 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Schneider Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–19 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Schneider Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Schneider Lake thaw?
- Schneider Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 232 days.
Can I fish at Schneider Lake?
- Public access to Schneider Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Schneider Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Stearns County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
63 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
MNPCA63 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate