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D

Strandness Lake

Pope County, MinnesotaEutrophic

Strandness Lake earns a D — measurements through 2024 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. At only 5 ft deep, Strandness Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. At 92 acres, Strandness Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Within the 25 graded lakes of Pope County, Strandness Lake sits at rank 21, near the bottom of the county list.

No invasive species are currently listed at Strandness Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 9 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. No formal public access is documented at Strandness Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. 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 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

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Swimming Safety

Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk

Water Quality Grade: D, Poor

Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 72.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)3 ftF
Phosphorus72.5 µg/LD
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)64Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth5 ft
Average Depth3.5 ft
Surface Area92.06 acres
Shoreline Length2.2 mi
Littoral Zone100%
Public AccessNo

Fish Species

black bullhead,brown bullhead,common carp,largemouth bass,northern pike,pumpkinseed,walleye,white sucker,yellow perch

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

→ Best fishing times for Strandness Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Strandness Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Strandness Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.205 m/yr5
Phosphorus Improving-24.35 µg/L/yr5
See year-by-year chart →

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #21 of 25 lakes in Pope County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Strandness Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Pope County

DNR Fisheries Survey Summary

1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2010-08-30 (Standard Survey).

Top Species by Catch Rate

SpeciesAvg CPUEAvg Weight
Fathead Minnow168.63
IOD49.06
Black Bullhead34.380.21 lb
Yellow Perch29.750.23 lb
BST17.92
Common Carp10.282.46 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

152 fish · 311 in · 2010-08-30
5427034567891011

Yellow Perch

113 fish · 611 in · 2010-08-30
47240trophy 1267891011

Common Carp

43 fish · 726 in · 2010-08-30
12608101214161820222426

From the 2010-08-30 survey

Strandness Lake is a shallow basin located in the flowage of Trapper's Run Creek. It lies between Malmedahl and Pelican Lakes, each of which is listed as impaired waters. Maximum depth of Strandness Lake is 5.0 feet. Undoubtedly, Strandness Lake holds little dissovled oxygen during winter months. Partial and severe…

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 Strandness Lake. 1 report on file.

EPA Impairment Status

Strandness Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN61-0128-00 · Official waterbody report

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder

Most recent sample: 2024-09-16

Monitoring stations: 1