Unnamed Lake
Unnamed Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 224 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 85.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 552.86 acres.
- Clarity
- 0.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 553 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 5
- Open water
- 232 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Unnamed Lake →
Next lake in Meeker County
Unnamed Lake is a 553-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 15 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Meeker County, Unnamed Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-20. 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.
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: 224 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 85.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 80.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 224 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 85.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 80 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Unnamed Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Unnamed Lake in Meeker 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 Unnamed Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Unnamed 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 →
Water Temperature
Unnamed Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in Sep (about 67°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2018–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 553 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 101% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Youngstrom LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Unnamed Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-10 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 114.87 | 0.42 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 35.50 | 0.7 lb |
| Black Crappie | 24.55 | 0.24 lb |
| Bluegill | 16.83 | 0.16 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.82 | 2.01 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.60 | 2.95 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
Brown Bullhead
Black Crappie
Bluegill
From the 2023-07-10 survey
Star is a moderate sized lake (552 acres) located southwest of the City of Litchfield in Meeker County. A state-owned access with paved parking and a single cement boat ramp is present on the southeast shore. Star has approximately ten miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of fifteen feet. The Minnesota Department of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Unnamed Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StarFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StarPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.003 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -13.86 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.6 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (53 observations).
Estimated open water season: 232 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-08 (2000) | 2022-11-20 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-07 (2003) | 2024-12-30 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-19
EPA Impairment Status
Unnamed 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 MN47-0129-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.51 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 19 lakes in Meeker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Unnamed Lake holds Grade F. 2 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 Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Unnamed Lake
What is the water quality grade for Unnamed Lake?
- Unnamed Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 224 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 85.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 552.86 acres.
Is Unnamed 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. Unnamed Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 85.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Unnamed Lake?
- Unnamed Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Unnamed Lake?
- Unnamed Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 552.86 acres.
What fish are in Unnamed Lake?
- Fish species found in Unnamed Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch. Unnamed Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
When does Unnamed Lake thaw?
- Unnamed Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5. Ice typically forms around Nov 23. The open water season is approximately 232 days.
Are there boat ramps on Unnamed Lake?
- Unnamed Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Youngstrom Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Unnamed 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 Meeker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
65 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA65 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate