The State of Minnesota’s Lakes 2026

Cleanest lakes in Minnesota

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

1. 1.AEast Fox Lake — Crow Wing County16.4 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P
2. 2.ANorth Long Lake — Crow Wing County15.1 ft clarity · 14 µg/L P
3. 3.ABad Medicine Lake — Becker County25.0 ft clarity · 6 µg/L P
4. 4.ABig Sugar Bush Lake — Becker County16.5 ft clarity · 10 µg/L P
5. 5.ARound Lake — Cook County16.5 ft clarity · 9 µg/L P
6. 6.ARound Lake — Beltrami County18.0 ft clarity · 7 µg/L P
7. 7.ALong Lake — Cass County21.5 ft clarity · 9 µg/L P
8. 8.ALong Lake — Clearwater County20.5 ft clarity · 7 µg/L P
9. 9.ALong Lake — Beltrami County20.0 ft clarity · 7 µg/L P
10. 10.ALong Lake — Becker County19.3 ft clarity · 8 µg/L P

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

1. 1.FNorth Long Lake — Ramsey County2.5 ft clarity · 102 µg/L P
2. 2.FSnelling Lake — Hennepin County1.8 ft clarity · 99 µg/L P · 54 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.FLong Lake — Stearns County2.5 ft clarity · 325 µg/L P
4. 4.FLong Lake — Hennepin County3.3 ft clarity · 90 µg/L P
5. 5.FLong Lake — Dakota County1.6 ft clarity · 110 µg/L P · 82 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.FJonathan Lake — Carver County1.5 ft clarity · 158 µg/L P
7. 7.FPeltier Lake — Anoka County2.5 ft clarity · 374 µg/L P
8. 8.FClear Lake — Meeker County3.0 ft clarity · 140 µg/L P
9. 9.FClear Lake — Brown County0.8 ft clarity · 196 µg/L P
10. 10.FClear Lake — Waseca County2.5 ft clarity · 151 µg/L P

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

1. 1.FArdmore Lake — Hennepin County185 µg/L chlorophyll-a
2. 2.FAugusta Lake — Dakota County130 µg/L chlorophyll-a
3. 3.FLamplighter Park Lake — Hennepin County113 µg/L chlorophyll-a
4. 4.FCody Lake — Rice County97 µg/L chlorophyll-a
5. 5.FRebecca Lake — Dakota County95 µg/L chlorophyll-a
6. 6.FMud Lake — Washington County89 µg/L chlorophyll-a
7. 7.FFarquar Lake — Dakota County88 µg/L chlorophyll-a
8. 8.FPhelps Lake — Rice County85 µg/L chlorophyll-a
9. 9.FHall Lake — Martin County84 µg/L chlorophyll-a
10. 10.FLong Lake — Dakota County82 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Trending lakes

Improving

1. 1.ABig Sugar Bush Lake — Becker County
2. 2.ARound Lake — Cook County
3. 3.ARound Lake — Beltrami County
4. 4.AHorseshoe Lake — Cass County
5. 5.ALong Lake — Becker County
6. 6.AWest Twin Lake — Crow Wing County
7. 7.AStar Lake — Crow Wing County
8. 8.AStar Lake — Otter Tail County

Declining

1. 1.FLong Lake — Stearns County
2. 2.FClear Lake — Meeker County
3. 3.FClear Lake — Waseca County
4. 4.FEagle Lake — Carver County
5. 5.FFish Lake — Kanabec County
6. 6.FHook Lake — McLeod County
7. 7.FGrace Lake — Carver County
8. 8.FRhine Lake — Pine County