West Hunter Lake
West Hunter Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 61.32 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Area
- 61 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Sherburne County
West Hunter Lake is a 61-acre mesotrophic lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including black bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Sherburne County, West Hunter Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-08. 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 10.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near West Hunter Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Hunter Lake in Sherburne 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
West Hunter Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 52 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full West Hunter Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 61 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 98% |
| Public Access | Yes |
The available depth estimate for West Hunter Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- West Hunter LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Hunter Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-06-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 336.19 | 0.26 lb |
| Bluegill | 33.15 | 0.11 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 16.97 | 1.6 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 15.33 | 0.13 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 14.29 | 0.12 lb |
| Common Carp | 4.17 | 0.47 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
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed
From the 2007-06-11 survey
East and West Hunter Lakes are small, shallow, connected lakes located four miles west of Zimmerman in eastern Sherburne County. In 1986 Livonia Township secured title to a parcel on the northwest shore of West Hunter Lake and made arrangements with DNR for a cooperative access. The Hunter Lakes have a history of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for West Hunter Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — West HunterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — West Hunter (1858)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — West HunterPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.207 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.86 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.86 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
West Hunter 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 MN71-0022-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 18 lakes in Sherburne County
Nearby Lakes in Sherburne County
Frequently asked questions about West Hunter Lake
What is the water quality grade for West Hunter Lake?
- West Hunter Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 61.32 acres.
Is West Hunter Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. West Hunter Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of West Hunter Lake?
- West Hunter Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 52 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is West Hunter Lake?
- The available depth estimate for West Hunter Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 61.32 acres.
What fish are in West Hunter Lake?
- Fish species found in West Hunter Lake include black bullhead. West Hunter Lake is located in Sherburne County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on West Hunter Lake?
- West Hunter Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Hunter Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA30 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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