Charlotte

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Charlotte Lake was conducted on June 30 - July 3, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 10 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample nine stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at one station. Nearshore sampling captured 14 species of fish including three species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, and Blacknose Shiner) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (Green Sunfish). A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured six species of fish. Bluegill and Pumpkinseed comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bluegill and Yellow Bullhead comprised a majority by biomass. The trap net catch was light overall. Approximately 22 percent of the Bluegill sampled were over 7 inches, but none exceeded 8 inches. The nearshore and trap net were combined with gill net data from a July 2024 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, and Blacknose Shiner), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov web site. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Charlotte Lake may beadversely impacted by stressors as indicated by an FIBI score near the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings, which indicated that Charlotte Lake is fully supporting aquatic life use but vulnerable to future impairment based on scores near the impairment threshold. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the North Fork Crow River watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Charlotte Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Charlotte Lake was conducted on July 8-10, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample eight stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at one station. One station was not seined due to dense aquatic vegetation and soft substrate. Nearshore sampling captured thirteen species of fish including two species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish and Blackchin Shiner) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). A summer trap net and gill net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured seven species of fish but none that are intolerant of disturbance. Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Yellow Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, and Bluegill comprised a majority by biomass. Six gill nets were set in deeper locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Gill net sampling captured seven species of fish but none that are intolerant of disturbance. Yellow Bullhead and Northern Pike comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Northern Pike comprised a majority by biomass. The nearshore, trap net, and gill net data were combined to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Charlotte Lake may be adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score near the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. The FIBI results are similar to previous findings, which indicated that Charlotte Lake was vulnerable to impairment when last assessed. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the North Fork Crow River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Charlotte Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Charlotte Lake was conducted on July 8-10, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample eight stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at one station. One station was not seined due to dense aquatic vegetation and soft substrate. Nearshore sampling captured thirteen species of fish including two species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish and Blackchin Shiner) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). A summer trap net and gill net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured seven species of fish but none that are intolerant of disturbance. Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Yellow Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, and Bluegill comprised a majority by biomass. Six gill nets were set in deeper locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Gill net sampling captured seven species of fish but none that are intolerant of disturbance. Yellow Bullhead and Northern Pike comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Northern Pike comprised a majority by biomass. The nearshore, trap net, and gill net data were combined to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Charlotte Lake may be adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score near the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. The FIBI results are similar to previous findings, which indicated that Charlotte Lake was vulnerable to impairment when last assessed. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the North Fork Crow River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Charlotte Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Green Sunfish, Black Crappie, and Walleye in Charlotte. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Charlotte. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Charlotte has a maximum depth of 46 feet and a mean depth of 22.2 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Charlotte is from 2025.

Yes — Charlotte has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.