West Hunter Lake
Sherburne County, Minnesota61 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for West Hunter Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Public access
West Hunter Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Surface area: 61.32 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2007 caught 0.20 northern pike per trap net at West Hunter Lake. DNR survey details →
West Hunter Lake is a 61-acre mesotrophic lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
West Hunter Lake covers about 61 acres in Sherburne County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near West Hunter Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What West Hunter Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.2 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. West Hunter Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether West Hunter Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for West Hunter Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for West Hunter Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus 23.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.3 µg/L. TSI 47.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10.2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 23.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 47 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about West Hunter Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
West Hunter Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (60°F) to its warmest (78°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2007 caught 0.20 northern pike per trap net at West Hunter Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows West Hunter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2007-06-11 (Standard Survey).
2 surveys on file · most recent 2007-06-11 (Standard Survey)
19 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 336.19 | 8–10 in 2007-06-11 | 0.26 lb |
| Bluegill | 33.15 | 1–6 in 2007-06-11 | 0.11 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 16.97 | 5–17 in 2007-06-11 | 1.6 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 15.33 | 0.13 lb | |
| Pumpkinseed | 14.29 | 4–7 in 2007-06-11 | 0.12 lb |
| Common Carp | 4.17 | 0.47 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Average depth
Not documented
Surface area
61 acres
Shoreline
1.6 mi
Littoral zone
98%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
The available depth estimate for West Hunter Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Recreation & Access
- West Hunter LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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.
Top-rated places to stay near West Hunter Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow West Hunter Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Hunter Lake
- → West Hunter Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → West Hunter Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → West Hunter Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from West Hunter Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2022–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving3 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.86 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.86 µg/L/yr3 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN71-0022-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Sherburne County
Frequently asked questions about West Hunter Lake
Where is West Hunter Lake?
- West Hunter Lake is a lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of West Hunter Lake?
- West Hunter Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. West Hunter Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of West Hunter Lake?
- West Hunter Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at West Hunter Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2007 caught 0.20 northern pike per trap net at West Hunter Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows West Hunter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at West Hunter Lake?
- West Hunter Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore West Hunter Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory