West Twin Lake
West Twin Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 133.56 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.8 ft
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 134 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cook County
West Twin Lake is a 134-acre mesotrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet (11-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including walleye and white sucker. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Cook County, West Twin Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch West Twin Lake water quality
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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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near West Twin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Twin Lake in Cook 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Average Depth | 11.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 134 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 72% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- West Twin LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing West Twin Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2005-08-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 12.26 | 1.82 lb |
| Walleye | 9.55 | 0.4 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 3.00 | — |
| CRC | 1.58 | 0.14 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.
White Sucker
Walleye
CRC
From the 2005-08-29 survey
The walleye catch in West Twin Lake was relatively high for a lake of this type; however, the 2005 catch was the lowest ever observed in this lake, historically. Walleye average size was low, but that has usually been the case in West Twin Lake, and the average size of the 2005 catch was similar to what has been seen…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for West Twin 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 TwinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — West Twin (1605)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — West TwinPublic 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 | → Stable | -0.066 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
West Twin 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 MN16-0194-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.97 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 44 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about West Twin Lake
What is the water quality grade for West Twin Lake?
- West Twin Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 133.56 acres.
Is West Twin Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. West Twin Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is West Twin Lake?
- West Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet and an average depth of 11.3 feet. The lake covers 133.56 acres.
What fish are in West Twin Lake?
- Fish species found in West Twin Lake include walleye, white sucker. West Twin Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on West Twin Lake?
- West Twin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Twin Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore West Twin Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
43 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA43 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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