Two Rivers Lake
Two Rivers Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 583.47 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Max depth
- 63 ft
- Area
- 583 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 7
- Open water
- 237 days
Next lake in Stearns County
Why Two Rivers 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 Two Rivers 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.
Two Rivers Lake is a 583-acre lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 63 feet (21-foot average). The lake supports 17 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 2020-09-12. 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 Two Rivers Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Two Rivers Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Two Rivers Lake in Stearns 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 Two Rivers Lake
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Water Temperature
Two Rivers Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 64°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 47 field readings (2016–2016) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Two Rivers Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 63 ft |
| Average Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 583 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 34% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Two Rivers LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Two Rivers 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-08 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 94.18 | 0.44 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 27.56 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 21.15 | 0.22 lb |
| Black Crappie | 17.03 | 0.25 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 16.29 | — |
| JND | 11.59 | — |
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
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Black Crappie
From the 2024-07-08 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Two Rivers Lake was conducted beginning July 8th, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Two Rivers Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Two RiversFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Two Rivers (1989)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Two RiversFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Two RiversPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (8 observations).
Estimated open water season: 237 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-16 (2016) | 2008-04-24 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2007-11-28 (2007) | 2002-12-12 (2002) |
Most recent ice-out: 2017-03-27
EPA Impairment Status
Two Rivers Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN73-0138-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Two Rivers Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Holdingford WwtpHoldingford · 3.6 mi away · NPDES MN0023710Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Two Rivers Lake
Two Rivers Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Two Rivers Lake
What is the water quality grade for Two Rivers Lake?
- Two Rivers Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 583.47 acres.
Is Two Rivers Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Two Rivers 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 Two Rivers Lake?
- Two Rivers Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, from 47 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2016). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Two Rivers Lake?
- Two Rivers Lake has a maximum depth of 63 feet and an average depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 583.47 acres.
What fish are in Two Rivers Lake?
- Fish species found in Two Rivers Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Two Rivers Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Two Rivers Lake thaw?
- Two Rivers Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 237 days.
Are there boat ramps on Two Rivers Lake?
- Two Rivers Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Two Rivers Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Two Rivers Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA6 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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