Sorenson Lake
Sorenson Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 92.03 acres.
- Clarity
- 16.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 46 ft
- Area
- 92 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 12
- Open water
- 227 days
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Sorenson Lake is a 92-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 46 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Crow Wing County, Sorenson Lake ranks #65 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 16.1 ft down. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Sorenson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sorenson Lake in Crow Wing 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.
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Water Temperature
Sorenson Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sorenson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 46 ft |
| Surface Area | 92 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 51% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- North Long Lake, MerrifieldPublic
Fishing Sorenson Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1990-06-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Bass | 38.00 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 15.00 | 1.98 lb |
| Bluegill | 6.00 | 0.08 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.00 | 0.11 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.00 | 0.05 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 0.50 | 0.2 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1990-06-07 survey
The fish population levels in numbers and average size of fish as determined from the range of median values for appropriate types of gear are indicated in the following table. High population levels are indicated by catch rates above the third quartile and low population levels by catch rates below the first…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sorenson Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SorensonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sorenson (0191)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.073 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.31 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.19 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (34 observations).
Estimated open water season: 227 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-19 (2012) | 2013-05-07 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-14 (2014) | 2001-12-07 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2019-04-19
County Ranking
Ranked #65 of 85 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Sorenson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sorenson Lake?
- Sorenson Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 92.03 acres.
Is Sorenson Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Sorenson Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sorenson Lake?
- Sorenson Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sorenson Lake?
- Sorenson Lake has a maximum depth of 46 feet. The lake covers 92.03 acres.
When does Sorenson Lake thaw?
- Sorenson Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 12. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 227 days.
Are there boat ramps on Sorenson Lake?
- Sorenson Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Long Lake, Merrifield. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
59 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA59 samples · 2022–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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
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