Is Upper Prior Lake Safe for Swimming?
Upper Prior Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. A water-quality reading is not a swimming clearance. The state water agency and county health departments post current advisories; check them before you swim.. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 38.7 μg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.8 μg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 50 ft |
| Location | Scott County, Minnesota |
How does Upper Prior Lake compare?
On nutrient and algae readings, Upper Prior Lake matches or beats the Minnesota state average. It ranks #3 of 21 lakes in Scott County on nutrient and algae readings.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 5 feet. That falls into moderate clarity — typical for lakes with some nutrient enrichment. Algae levels (chlorophyll-a) measure 8.8 µg/L — moderate; acceptable for swimming on most days, but worth checking advisories.
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