Star Lake
Star Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 63.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 34.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 552.86 acres.
- Clarity
- 1 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 553 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 5
- Open water
- 232 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Star Lake →
Next lake in Meeker County
Star Lake is a 553-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 15 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Meeker County, Star Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-30. 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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 63.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 34.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 63.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 34.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Star Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Star Lake in Meeker 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 Star Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Star 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
Star Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Apr (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 113 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Star Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Star Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (636,796 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 553 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 101% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Minnesota LakePublic
- Star LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Star Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-10 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 114.87 | 0.42 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 35.50 | 0.7 lb |
| Black Crappie | 24.55 | 0.24 lb |
| Bluegill | 16.83 | 0.16 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.82 | 2.01 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.60 | 2.95 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
Brown Bullhead
Black Crappie
Bluegill
From the 2023-07-10 survey
Star is a moderate sized lake (552 acres) located southwest of the City of Litchfield in Meeker County. A state-owned access with paved parking and a single cement boat ramp is present on the southeast shore. Star has approximately ten miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of fifteen feet. The Minnesota Department of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Star Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StarFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StarPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.003 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -13.86 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.6 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (53 observations).
Estimated open water season: 232 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-08 (2000) | 2022-11-20 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-07 (2003) | 2024-12-30 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-19
EPA Impairment Status
Star 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 MN47-0129-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 19 lakes in Meeker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Star Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Star Lake
What is the water quality grade for Star Lake?
- Star Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 63.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 34.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 552.86 acres.
Is Star Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Star Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 34.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Star Lake?
- Star Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 113 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Star Lake?
- Star Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 552.86 acres.
What fish are in Star Lake?
- Fish species found in Star Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch. Star Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
When does Star Lake thaw?
- Star Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5. Ice typically forms around Nov 23. The open water season is approximately 232 days.
Does Star Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Star Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (636,796 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Star Lake?
- Star Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Minnesota Lake, Star Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Star Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Meeker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Star Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Star Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
251 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA251 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
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