New Warning: Don’t Eat Fish From These Minnesota Lakes and Rivers

A stark new warning from the Minnesota Department of Health is advising Minnesotans not to eat fish from certain bodies of water across the state due to dangerous levels of certain hazardous compounds.

Water bodies now with these warnings include some in the Duluth area, around the Twin Cities, and places in outstate Minnesota.

The warning addresses dangerous chemicals like PFAS, mercury, and PFOs, all of which can be harmful to humans, especially at elevated levels.

Seasoned anglers know that several Minnesota lakes unfortunately have fish consumption guidelines that address specific groups of people and specific varieties of fish.

While this concept isn't new, the new update from the MDH provides updated guidance for consuming fish, but also outlines several bodies of water for which nobody should eat any fish.

READ MORE: Study says Minnesota & Wisconsin fish contaminated with high levels of 'forever chemicals'

Included in the new list are bodies of water in 10 Minnesota counties, including St. Louis County in Northern Minnesota, several Twin Cities metro area counties, Martin County in Southern Minnesota, and Douglas County in Western Minnesota.

What Minnesota lakes and rivers should nobody eat any fish from?

While some of the new guidance addresses specific fish species or certain groups of people, these are the lakes with the strictest limitations or full "do not eat at all" advisory from the Minnesota Department of Health.

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Quick note - The MDH defines "sensitive populations" as people who are or may become pregnant, people who are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, and children under age 15.

Carver County

• South Fork of the Crow River - Nobody should eat yellow perch or common carp from this body of water.
  • Everyone in the "sensitive populations" category should not eat any fish at all from this body of water.

Hennepin County

• Hogback, Long Meadow Lake, and other unnamed ponds near the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - Nobody should eat any fish from these bodies of water.
• Mooney Lake - Nobody should eat bass at all from this lake. All other species should not be consumed more than once a month.
• Bde Maka Ska/Lake Harriet/Minnehaha Creek - People in the "sensitive populations" should not eat any fish from these bodies of water at all.
  • Everyone else should limit consumption of any species of fish to once a month.
• Crystal - People in the "sensitive populations" should not eat any fish from these bodies of water at all.
  • Everyone else should limit consumption of any species of fish to once a month.

Martin County

• George Lake - Nobody should eat walleye from this lake. Everyone should limit consumption of all other species to once per month.

McLeod County

• South Fork Crow River, Otter Lake, McCuen Creek, Bear Creek - Nobody should eat yellow perch or common carp from these bodies of water. People in the "sensitive populations" should not eat any fish from these bodies of water at all.
  • Everyone else should limit consumption of species other than those mentioned above to once a month.

Ramsey County

• Johanna and Little Johanna Lakes - People in the "sensitive populations" should not eat any fish from these bodies of water at all.
  • Everyone else should limit consumption of any species of fish to once a month.
• Little Canada - People in the "sensitive populations" should not eat any fish from these bodies of water at all.
  • Everyone else should limit consumption of any species of fish to once a month.
• Keller Lake - People in the "sensitive populations" should not eat any fish from these bodies of water at all.
  • Everyone else should limit consumption of any species of fish to once a month.
• McCarron & Josephine Lakes - People in the "sensitive populations" should not eat any fish from these bodies of water at all.
  • Everyone else should limit consumption of any species of fish to once a month.
• Phalen - People in the "sensitive populations" should not eat any fish from these bodies of water at all.
  • Everyone else should limit consumption of any species of fish to once a month.

St. Louis County

• Fish Lake Flowage, Miller Creek, Wild Rice Lake. Beaver River - People in the "sensitive populations" should not eat any fish from these bodies of water at all.
  • Everyone else should limit consumption of any species of fish to once a month.

Washington County

• Clear & Mud Lakes - People in the "sensitive populations" should not eat any fish from these bodies of water at all.
  • Everyone else should limit consumption of any species of fish to once a month.
• Battle Creek & Tanners Lakes - People in the "sensitive populations" should not eat any fish from these bodies of water at all.
  • Everyone else should limit consumption of any species of fish to once a month.

You can see the full updated consumption guidance list from the MDH here. In addition, the Minnesota DNR's Lake Finder tool has all fish consumption guidelines for every lake around the state, so you can check on demand for any lake you might be fishing to see what the latest consumption guidelines are.