Somers Lake
Wright County, MinnesotaEutrophic
Somers Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. Somers Lake reaches 21 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 151 acres, Somers Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 2.1 miles of shoreline. Among the 64 graded lakes in Wright County, Somers Lake sits at rank 32, above the county median.
Somers Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 9 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The lake has a partial ice record — 9 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 11. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 59 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 59 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Average Depth | 10.2 ft |
| Surface Area | 151.35 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 85% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Somers Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Somers Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Somers Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.185 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.85 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-15 (2016) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2017-12-07 (2017) | 2017-12-07 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-03
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #32 of 64 lakes in Wright County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Somers Lake holds Grade C. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AUpper Maple LakeWright County · mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- ASugar LakeWright County · mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- ACedar LakeWright County · mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- CIndian LakeWright County · mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Wright County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Somers Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
19 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-06 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 99.07 | 0.19 lb |
| Bluegill | 67.89 | 0.18 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 43.65 | 1.25 lb |
| Black Crappie | 31.25 | 0.25 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 23.69 | 0.16 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 10.29 | 0.26 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
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-08-06 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Somers Lake was conducted on August 6, 2025, by Area Fisheries staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Somers Lake. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SomersFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SomersFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Somers Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN86-0230-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-16
Monitoring stations: 3