Uhlenkolts Lake
Uhlenkolts Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 187 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 205 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 250.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 0.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 250 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Uhlenkolts Lake →
Next lake in Stearns County
Uhlenkolts Lake is a 250-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Uhlenkolts Lake ranks #30 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 0.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 187 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 205 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 82.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 187 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 205 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 82 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Uhlenkolts Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Uhlenkolts 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Uhlenkolts Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Uhlenkolts Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Uhlenkolts Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 52 field readings (2016–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Uhlenkolts Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 250 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.7 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Uhlenkolts Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1982-06-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 16.88 | 0.33 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 2.83 | 0.53 lb |
| Common Carp | 2.50 | 8.1 lb |
| White Sucker | 0.17 | 0.2 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 0.17 | 0.3 lb |
| Northern Pike | 0.17 | 3 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1982-06-21 survey
There is a large population of Black Crappie but average size of fish is small. The Northern Pike population is higher than state avgerage. The Common Carp and Black Bullhead population are also high with small avgerage size. Large population of small White Suckers, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Green Sunfish, hybrid…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Uhlenkolts Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — UhlenkoltsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — UhlenkoltsPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Uhlenkolts 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 MN73-0208-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #30 of 32 lakes in Stearns County
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Uhlenkolts Lake
What is the water quality grade for Uhlenkolts Lake?
- Uhlenkolts Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 187 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 205 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 250.2 acres.
Is Uhlenkolts Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Uhlenkolts Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 205 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Uhlenkolts Lake?
- Uhlenkolts Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 52 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Uhlenkolts Lake?
- Uhlenkolts Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 250.2 acres.
Explore Uhlenkolts Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA22 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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