Wanless Lake
Wanless Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 77.92 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.4 ft
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 78 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lake County
Why Wanless 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 Wanless Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, 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.
Wanless Lake is a 78-acre lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including northern pike, white sucker, and yellow perch. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-08-01. 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 Wanless Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.3 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Wanless Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wanless Lake in Lake 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 Wanless Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 78 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 99% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Harriet LakePublic
- Hogback LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wanless Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2013-05-29 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BNS | 65.15 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 8.42 | 0.07 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.42 | 2.28 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.37 | 1.41 lb |
| BST | 0.75 | — |
| Fathead Minnow | 0.38 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
Northern Pike
From the 2013-05-29 survey
On May 29, 2013 a special assessment was performed using trap nets to assess the mid-range objective in the Lake Management Plan of determining survival and reproductive success of stocked Black Crappie. In late October 2002, 295 Black Crappie fingerlings were stocked, however; stocking records indicate that fish were…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wanless Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WanlessFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Wanless (1114)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Wanless Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0049-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Wanless Lake
Wanless Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Wanless Lake
What is the water quality grade for Wanless Lake?
- Wanless Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 77.92 acres.
Is Wanless Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Wanless Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Wanless Lake?
- Wanless Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 77.92 acres.
What fish are in Wanless Lake?
- Fish species found in Wanless Lake include northern pike, white sucker, yellow perch. Wanless Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Wanless Lake?
- Wanless Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Harriet Lake, Hogback Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Wanless Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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