Stella Lake
Stella Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 75 ft. Surface area: 599.02 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 75 ft
- Area
- 599 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 7
- Open water
- 238 days
Next lake in Meeker County
Why Stella Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Stella Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Stella Lake is a 599-acre lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 75 feet (14-foot average). The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Stella Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Stella Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Stella 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Stella Lake
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Water Temperature
Stella Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in Apr (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 84 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Stella Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Stella Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (75,858 cells/mL) on November 1, 2025.
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 | 75 ft |
| Average Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 599 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Stella LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Stella Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
19 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-04 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BKS | 35.75 | — |
| Bluegill | 16.84 | 0.13 lb |
| JND | 16.09 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 15.27 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 10.75 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 9.99 | 0.67 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
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
From the 2025-08-04 survey
Stella is a moderate-sized lake (599 acres) located south of the Town of Darwin in Meeker County. A state-owned access with paved parking and a double cement boat ramp is present on the south shore. Stella has almost five miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of seventy-five feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Stella Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StellaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StellaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StellaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.02 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (62 observations).
Estimated open water season: 238 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-15 (2016) | 2013-05-02 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-13 (2018) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-27
EPA Impairment Status
Stella Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN47-0068-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Stella Lake
Stella Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Stella Lake
What is the water quality grade for Stella Lake?
- Stella Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 75 ft. Surface area: 599.02 acres.
Is Stella Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Stella Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Stella Lake?
- Stella Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 84 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Stella Lake?
- Stella Lake has a maximum depth of 75 feet and an average depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 599.02 acres.
What fish are in Stella Lake?
- Fish species found in Stella Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Stella Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
When does Stella Lake thaw?
- Stella Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 238 days.
Does Stella Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Stella Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (75,858 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Stella Lake?
- Stella Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Stella Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Stella Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
69 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA69 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 (2)
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