Third Crow Wing Lake
Third Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 643.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 643 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 221 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Third Crow Wing Lake is a 643-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Third Crow Wing Lake ranks #56 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Third Crow Wing Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Third Crow Wing Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Third Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard 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 Third Crow Wing 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 →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Third Crow Wing Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (128,233 cells/mL) on November 22, 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 | 35 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 643 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 57% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Third Crow Wing 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-22 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 24.54 | 0.09 lb |
| BKF | 22.60 | — |
| Bluegill | 10.24 | 0.18 lb |
| JND | 9.67 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 7.57 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.86 | 1.14 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
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-07-22 survey
Third Crow Wing Lake is located six miles south of Nevis in southern Hubbard County. Third Crow Wing is part of a chain of lakes running from Eleventh Crow Wing Lake at the headwaters, down to First Crow Wing Lake. Third Crow Wing Lake has a surface area of 643 acres and a maximum depth of 35 feet. A DNR-owned public…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Third Crow Wing Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Third Crow WingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Third Crow Wing (1292)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Third Crow WingFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Third Crow WingPublic 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 | +0.21 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.77 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.26 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (16 observations).
Estimated open water season: 221 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-15 (2024) | 2022-05-07 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-01 (2006) | 2015-11-30 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-15
EPA Impairment Status
Third Crow Wing 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 MN29-0077-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #56 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Third Crow Wing Lake holds Grade B. 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 Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Third Crow Wing Lake
What is the water quality grade for Third Crow Wing Lake?
- Third Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 643.4 acres.
Is Third Crow Wing Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Third Crow Wing Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Third Crow Wing Lake?
- Third Crow Wing Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 643.4 acres.
What fish are in Third Crow Wing Lake?
- Fish species found in Third Crow Wing Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, greater redhorse, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, river redhorse, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Third Crow Wing Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Third Crow Wing Lake thaw?
- Third Crow Wing Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 221 days.
Does Third Crow Wing Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Third Crow Wing Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (128,233 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Third Crow Wing 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 Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Third Crow Wing Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
136 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
MNPCA136 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate