Stevens Lake
Stevens Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 100.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 52°F
- Max depth
- 63 ft
- Area
- 100 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cass County
Stevens Lake is a 100-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 63 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Stevens Lake ranks #97 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Stevens Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 28.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 28.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Stevens Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Stevens Lake in Cass 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
Stevens Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 53°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 53°F) and coldest in May (about 46°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 85 field readings (2011–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Stevens Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 63 ft |
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 67% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Stevens LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Stevens Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2004-06-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 14.35 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 5.50 | 0.48 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 4.21 | 0.71 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.02 | 0.34 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.89 | 2.04 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 1.46 | 0.65 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 Bass
Brown Bullhead
Black Crappie
From the 2004-06-21 survey
Stevens Lake is an 105-acre lake located east of Longville, MN that has 2.8 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 63 feet. There is a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) public access on the southeast shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Stevens Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StevensFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Stevens (1146)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StevensPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Stevens 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 MN11-0116-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #97 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Stevens Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Stevens Lake
What is the water quality grade for Stevens Lake?
- Stevens Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 100.1 acres.
Is Stevens Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Stevens Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Stevens Lake?
- Stevens Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in August, from 85 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Stevens Lake?
- Stevens Lake has a maximum depth of 63 feet. The lake covers 100.1 acres.
What fish are in Stevens Lake?
- Fish species found in Stevens Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Stevens Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Stevens Lake?
- Stevens Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Stevens Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA20 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
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