School Section Lake
Stearns County, Minnesota211 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for School Section Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 14 ft max depth
- Public access
School Section Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 210.54 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 29, 2018 caught 1.27 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at School Section Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–18 inches. DNR survey details →
School Section Lake is a 211-acre mesotrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet (9-foot average). Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, School Section Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-18. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What School Section Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water9.8 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing8 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 5
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether School Section 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 School Section Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for School Section Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.1 µg/L. TSI 41.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 9.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 14µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.1µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 41 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about School Section Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
School Section Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (62°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 76 field readings (2011–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full School Section Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 29, 2018 caught 1.27 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at School Section Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–18 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows School Section Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-08-29 (Targeted Survey).
5 surveys on file · most recent 2018-08-29 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 71.53 | 2–7 in 2018-06-25 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 31.83 | 0.4 lb | |
| Black Bullhead | 27.80 | 11–12 in 2018-06-25 | 0.7 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 24.36 | 3–8 in 2018-06-25 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 22.94 | 7–18 in 2018-06-25 | 0.92 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 20.26 | 5–12 in 2018-06-25 | 0.29 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
Black Bullhead
Pumpkinseed
Largemouth Bass
From the 2018-08-29 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in School Section Lake was conducted on August 29-30, 2018 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for School Section Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — School SectionFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — School SectionFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — School SectionPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
14 ft
Average depth
8.5 ft
Surface area
211 acres
Shoreline
2.7 mi
Littoral zone
95%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
3 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,119 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- School Section LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near School Section Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near School Section 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.
Top-rated places to stay near School Section Lake
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Follow School Section Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing School Section Lake
- → School Section Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → School Section Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → School Section Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from School Section Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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 readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2021–2023). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving2 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable0 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 5
Earliest Mar 9, 2017 · Latest May 1, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 10, 2018 · Latest Dec 12, 2017
Most recent ice-out
Apr 7
2020
13 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about School Section Lake
Where is School Section Lake?
- School Section 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 School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 210.54 acres.
Is School Section Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 76 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet and an average depth of 8.5 feet. The lake covers 210.54 acres.
What fish are in School Section Lake?
- Fish species found in School Section Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch. School Section Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at School Section Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 29, 2018 caught 1.27 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at School Section Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–18 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows School Section Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does School Section Lake thaw?
- School Section Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 240 days.
Are there boat ramps on School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include School Section Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 School Section Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA30 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 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
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