Olmsted County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 8 lakes, measured by Minnesota PCA
Olmsted County has 8 monitored 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. 2 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county-wide picture is low-to-moderate phosphorus with clear summer transparency across most monitored lakes.
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. Bamber Lake has the lowest nutrient and algae readings in the county.
Where to stay near Olmsted County
Top-rated places to stay near Olmsted County
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Olmsted County?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Olmsted County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Olmsted County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Bamber Lake — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
Fishing in Olmsted County
DNR Reports (6)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Olmsted County. browse all reports →
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ZumbroFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SilverFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShadyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SilverPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ZumbroFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ZumbroPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Olmsted County
8 lakes · 2 ranked on readings, 6 without enough sampling2 lakes ranked on readings · 6 without enough sampling, hidden
| # | Lake | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Max Depth | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bamber LakeOlmsted | 14.1 ft | 11 µg/L | 4.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | Carry-in |
| 2 | Zumbro LakeOlmsted | 4 ft | 69 µg/L | 24.7 µg/L | No recent samples | 43 ft | ✓ Public |
| Silver LakeOlmsted | 2 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 11 ft | ✓ Public | |
| Shady LakeOlmsted | 3.6 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 13 ft | Carry-in | |
| Manor Woods PondOlmsted | 2.5 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Carry-in | |
| Lake FlorenceOlmsted | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 6.9 ft | Not recorded | |
| Mayowood LakeOlmsted | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| Zumbro LakeOlmsted | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 40 ft | Not recorded |
NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in Minnesota
Browse every Minnesota lake, or the full directory of lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..
Source: the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR. See data sources.