Vermont Lake
Vermont Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 59 ft. Surface area: 341.92 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 59 ft
- Area
- 342 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 11
- Open water
- 236 days
Next lake in Douglas County
Vermont Lake is a 342-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 59 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Vermont Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 12.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Vermont Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Vermont Lake in Douglas 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.
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Water Temperature
Vermont Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 42 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Vermont Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 59 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 342 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 64% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Vermont LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Vermont Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-05-12 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 43.85 | 0.23 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 28.36 | 0.18 lb |
| CNM | 18.27 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 16.27 | 0.93 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 14.37 | 0.44 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.83 | 1.36 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.
Bluegill
Green Sunfish
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Bass
From the 2022-05-12 survey
A targeted survey was conducted in spring 2022 to assess the Bluegill and Black Crappie populations. This was the first targeted spring panfish survey on Lake Vermont and will be used as a baseline to evaluate the effects of the new Quality Sunfish Initiative (QSI) regulation. On March 1, 2022, a special regulation…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Vermont Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — VermontFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Vermont (0912)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — VermontFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — VermontPublic 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 | ↑ Improving | +0.142 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.23 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.07 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (11 observations).
Estimated open water season: 236 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-10 (2024) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-17 (2002) | 2001-12-17 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-10
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 37 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Vermont Lake
What is the water quality grade for Vermont Lake?
- Vermont Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 59 ft. Surface area: 341.92 acres.
Is Vermont Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Vermont Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Vermont Lake?
- Vermont Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 42 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Vermont Lake?
- Vermont Lake has a maximum depth of 59 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 341.92 acres.
What fish are in Vermont Lake?
- Fish species found in Vermont Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Vermont Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
When does Vermont Lake thaw?
- Vermont Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 11. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 236 days.
Are there boat ramps on Vermont Lake?
- Vermont Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Vermont Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Vermont 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 Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Alexandria Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Vermont Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
115 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
MNPCA115 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
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