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LakeQuality

August Lake

A
Grade A — Excellent
Excellent · #21 of 35 lakes in the county · 4.7 ft clear · Mesotrophic · 229 acres · from B
Limited DataMesotrophic

August Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 4.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 228.68 acres.

Clarity
4.7 ft
Typical in August
68°F
Max depth
19 ft
Area
229 acres
Type
Mesotrophic
Public access
Yes

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August Lake is a 229-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including burbot, largemouth bass, and northern pike. Public access is available. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, August Lake ranks #21 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Grade only

Limited data

Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Ely

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Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)

Murky, only visible to about 4.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)4.7 ftNot graded
Phosphorus13 µg/LGood
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)2 µg/LGood
Trophic State Index (TSI)44Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Where to stay near August Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near August Lake in Lake County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near August Lake

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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →

Water Temperature

August Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in Sep (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
65°
Jul
68°
Aug
68°
Sep
62°
Oct
Nov
Dec

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (20112025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full August Lake water temperature breakdown →

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth19 ft
Surface Area229 acres
Shoreline Length6 mi
Littoral Zone96%
Public AccessYes

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area
6 sq mi
Elevation
1,526 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing August Lake

EPA Impairment Status

August Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0691-00 · Official waterbody report

County Ranking

Ranked #21 of 35 lakes in Lake County

Nearby Lakes in Lake County

Frequently asked questions about August Lake

What is the water quality grade for August Lake?

August Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 4.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 228.68 acres.

Is August Lake safe to swim in?

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. August Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

What is the water temperature of August Lake?

August Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

How deep is August Lake?

August Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 228.68 acres.

What fish are in August Lake?

Fish species found in August Lake include burbot, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. August Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.

Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota

Where this data comes from

14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface WaterMNPCA14 samples · 2025

Analytical methods

  • Field measurement/observation, generic method
  • Phosphorus by Colorimetry
  • 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)

Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.

Other records on this page

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)

Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder