McLeod County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 5 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
McLeod County has 5 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. On average, McLeod County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Marion Lake (D) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for McLeod County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Marion Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (15)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in McLeod County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WinstedFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SwanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Stahl'sFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MarionFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HookFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HookFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HookPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MarionFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MarionPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Stahl'sFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Stahl'sPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SwanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in McLeod County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marion Lake | D | - | 15.2 ft | 71 µg/L |
| 2 | Swan Lake | D | 2.6 ft | 10 ft | 85 µg/L |
| 3 | Stahl'S Lake | D | 6 ft | 37 ft | 129 µg/L |
| 4 | Winsted Lake | D | 3.3 ft | 12 ft | 449 µg/L |
| 5 | Hook Lake | F | 3 ft | 18 ft | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.