Stocking Lake
Stocking Lake in Wadena County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 361.75 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 362 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 16
- Open water
- 212 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Stocking Lake →
Next lake in Wadena County
Stocking Lake is a 362-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wadena County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 22 feet (7-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Wadena County, Stocking Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-18. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 15.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 34 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 15.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Stocking Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Stocking Lake in Wadena 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 Stocking Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Stocking Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Stocking Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 51 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Stocking Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Average Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 362 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 90% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Stocking LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Stocking 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
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 20.86 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 19.20 | 0.11 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.84 | 0.23 lb |
| JND | 14.14 | — |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.66 | 0.17 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.68 | 2.38 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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Northern Pike
From the 2021-06-21 survey
Stocking Lake is located two miles east of Menahga in northern Wadena County. Stocking Lake is a shallow lake and has a surface area of 357 acres and a maximum depth of 22 feet. There is a state-owned public access located on the east shore of the lake. Stocking provides angling opportunities for Panfish, Northern…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Stocking Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StockingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Stocking (1327)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StockingFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StockingPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.134 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.7 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.36 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (55 observations).
Estimated open water season: 212 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-30 (2000) | 2022-05-03 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-03 (1991) | 1999-12-08 (1999) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-30
EPA Impairment Status
Stocking 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 MN80-0037-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Wadena County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Stocking Lake holds Grade D. 3 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 Wadena County
Frequently asked questions about Stocking Lake
What is the water quality grade for Stocking Lake?
- Stocking Lake in Wadena County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 361.75 acres.
Is Stocking Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Stocking Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 15.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Stocking Lake?
- Stocking Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 51 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Stocking Lake?
- Stocking Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet and an average depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 361.75 acres.
What fish are in Stocking Lake?
- Fish species found in Stocking Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Stocking Lake is located in Wadena County, Minnesota.
When does Stocking Lake thaw?
- Stocking Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 16. Ice typically forms around Nov 14. The open water season is approximately 212 days.
Are there boat ramps on Stocking Lake?
- Stocking Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Stocking Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Stocking 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 Wadena County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
120 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
MNPCA120 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