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LakeQuality
F

Split Rock Reservoir

Pipestone County, MinnesotaHypereutrophic

Split Rock Reservoir grades an F: water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate poorly, placing it among the most stressed lakes monitored in Minnesota. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

Hypereutrophic conditions mean the lake is operating at the upper end of the productivity scale, with all the bloom risk that implies. Split Rock Reservoir reaches 16 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 96 acres, Split Rock Reservoir sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality.

Split Rock Reservoir has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2023, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery is panfish-dominated — bluegill, crappie, and sunfish among the 12 species documented for the lake. A documented public access point at Split Rock Reservoir makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins

Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor

Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 241 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 78.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)1.3 ftF
Phosphorus241 µg/LF
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)78Hypereutrophic

Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth16 ft
Surface Area95.79 acres
Shoreline Length3.5 mi
Littoral Zone82%
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Split Rock Reservoir (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Split Rock Reservoir? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Split Rock Reservoir fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Water Quality Trend: Stable

Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.1 m/yr2
Phosphorus Declining+6 µg/L/yr2

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Pipestone County

Nearby Lakes in Pipestone County

Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota

DNR Fisheries Survey Summary

9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-07 (Standard Survey).

Top Species by Catch Rate

SpeciesAvg CPUEAvg Weight
Black Bullhead34.280.29 lb
White Sucker21.841.32 lb
OSS21.650.03 lb
Black Crappie17.180.19 lb
Common Carp11.811.94 lb
Yellow Perch6.090.22 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.

Black Bullhead

273 fish · 412 in · 2025-07-07
104520456789101112

White Sucker

152 fish · 417 in · 2025-07-07
522604567891011121314151617

OSS

364 fish · 24 in · 2025-07-07
3471740234

Black Crappie

143 fish · 411 in · 2025-07-07
47240trophy 104567891011

From the 2025-07-07 survey

Split Rock Lake is an impoundment created by a dam on Split Rock Creek constructed in 1938. This reservoir is located entirely within the boundaries of Split Rock State Park near Ihlen in Pipestone County. It has a surface area of 80 acres, a maximum depth of 16 feet, Secchi depth of 2.5 feet, and is a class 42 lake.…

Source: MN DNR LakeFinder Fisheries Lake Survey

DNR Reports & Resources

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Split Rock Reservoir. 3 reports on file.

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder

Most recent sample: 2023-09-11

Monitoring stations: 2