West Twin Lake
West Twin Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 127.49 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.3 ft
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 127 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Crow Wing County
West Twin Lake is a 127-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Crow Wing County, West Twin Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch West Twin Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 13.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near West Twin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near West Twin Lake in Crow Wing 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 | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 127 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 68% |
| 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
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-15 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 21.45 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 10.60 | 0.36 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 5.76 | — |
| BCS | 5.43 | — |
| BNS | 5.19 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.91 | 0.61 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Largemouth Bass
From the 2021-06-15 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in West Twin Lake was conducted on June 15-17, 2021 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Nearshore sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for West Twin Lake. 2 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
- —Public Water Access Sites — West TwinPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.314 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.39 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.04 µg/L/yr | 6 |
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 MN18-0407-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.15 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 85 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about West Twin Lake
What is the water quality grade for West Twin Lake?
- West Twin Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 127.49 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 2.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is West Twin Lake?
- West Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 127.49 acres.
What fish are in West Twin Lake?
- Fish species found in West Twin Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. West Twin Lake is located in Crow Wing 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.
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Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA10 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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