August Lake
Lake County, Minnesota229 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for August Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 19 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
August Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
August Lake is a 229-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What August Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing7 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. August Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether August Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for August Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for August Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4.7 ft. Phosphorus 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2 µg/L. TSI 44.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4.7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 13µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 44 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about August Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
August Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (62°F) to its warmest (68°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full August Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
Max depth
19 ft
Surface area
229 acres
Shoreline
6 mi
Littoral zone
96%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
6 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,526 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
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 whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow August Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0691-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about August Lake
Where is August Lake?
- August Lake is a lake in Lake County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of August Lake?
- August Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. August Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of August Lake?
- August Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in September, 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.
Can I fish at August Lake?
- Public access to August Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore August Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Lake County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near August Lake
Other Lakes in 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 Water
MNPCA14 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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