Vera Lake
Lake County, MinnesotaLimited DataOligotrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric, Vera Lake pulls an A: clarity at 19.0 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Minnesota. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
A TSI value of 35 puts Vera Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. At 55 ft of maximum depth, Vera Lake stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. At 250 acres, Vera Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 6.2 miles of shoreline. Among the 142 graded lakes in Lake County, Vera Lake ranks 15 — in the top quartile locally.
No invasive species are currently listed at Vera Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Vera Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-07-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 250.39 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 34% |
| Public Access | No |
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.243 m/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 142 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-19 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 15.79 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 15.01 | 0.17 lb |
| White Sucker | 12.43 | 2.1 lb |
| Walleye | 8.45 | 1.29 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.42 | 0.77 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 0.65 | 0.1 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.
Tullibee (Cisco)
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
Walleye
From the 2025-08-19 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Vera Lake on August 19th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Vera Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — VeraFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2023-07-21
Monitoring stations: 8