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LakeQuality
B

West Hunter Lake

Sherburne County, MinnesotaMesotrophic

On the LakeGrade scale West Hunter Lake grades a B, with clarity at 17.2 ft and 30 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Minnesota median. High phosphorus is the leading drag on the score — likely from upland agriculture, lawn runoff, or in-lake sediment release.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at West Hunter Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake is compact at 61 acres, with 1.6 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. West Hunter Lake sits at rank 13 of 24 in Sherburne County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at West Hunter Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. 1 fish species are documented at West Hunter Lake, a mixed warm-water community typical for Minnesota lakes of this size. A documented public access point at West Hunter Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels

Water Quality Grade: B, Good

Crystal clear, you can see 17.2 ft down. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)17.2 ftA
Phosphorus30 µg/LC
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)5.3 µg/LB
Trophic State Index (TSI)45Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Surface Area61.32 acres
Shoreline Length1.6 mi
Littoral Zone98%
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for West Hunter Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from West Hunter Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

West Hunter Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Water Quality Trend: Stable

Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+1.75 m/yr2
Phosphorus Declining+1.5 µg/L/yr2

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #13 of 24 lakes in Sherburne County

Nearby Lakes in Sherburne County

State Parks Near 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

SpeciesAvg CPUEAvg Weight
Black Bullhead336.190.26 lb
Bluegill33.150.11 lb
Largemouth Bass16.971.6 lb
Yellow Perch15.330.13 lb
Pumpkinseed14.290.12 lb
Common Carp4.170.47 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

21 fish · 810 in · 2007-06-11
12608910

Bluegill

151 fish · 16 in · 2007-06-11
68340123456

Largemouth Bass

30 fish · 517 in · 2007-06-11
840567891011121314151617

Pumpkinseed

117 fish · 47 in · 2007-06-11
753804567

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…

Source: MN DNR LakeFinder Fisheries Lake Survey

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.

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: 2024-09-24

Monitoring stations: 1