Schneider Lake
Schneider Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 64 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 59.61 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Typical in August
- 56°F
- Max depth
- 52 ft
- Area
- 60 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 14
- Open water
- 232 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Schneider Lake →
Next lake in Stearns County
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). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Phosphorus level: 64 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 64 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Schneider Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Schneider 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
Schneider Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 52 ft |
| Average Depth | 19.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 44% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-30 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 15.60 | 0.23 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.11 | 1 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.25 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.35 | 0.43 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 3.56 | 0.22 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 3.23 | 2.8 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.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.526 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +15.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +14.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (31 observations).
Estimated open water season: 232 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-18 (2000) | 2008-04-23 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 1995-11-12 (1995) | 2002-12-16 (2002) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-29
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #20 of 32 lakes in Stearns County
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Schneider Lake
What is the water quality grade for Schneider Lake?
- Schneider Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Schneider Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 18 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Schneider Lake?
- Schneider Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Schneider Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate