Augusta Lake
Augusta Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 147.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 130 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 0.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Mean depth
- ~11 ft est.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Augusta Lake →
Next lake in Dakota County
Augusta Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 11 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Augusta Lake ranks #37 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-11-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Augusta Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 0.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 147.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 130 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 79.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 147.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 130 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 79 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Augusta Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Augusta Lake in Dakota 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Augusta Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Augusta Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Augusta Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Mar (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 54 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Augusta Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~11 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Augusta Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Augusta Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.29 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -148 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -156.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (4 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2002-04-13 (2002) | 2007-04-30 (2007) |
| Ice-In | 2006-12-02 (2006) | 2006-12-02 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-04-17
EPA Impairment Status
Augusta Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN19-0081-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #37 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Augusta Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Augusta Lake
What is the water quality grade for Augusta Lake?
- Augusta Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 147.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 130 µg/L.
Is Augusta Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Augusta Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 130 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Augusta Lake?
- Augusta Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 54 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Augusta Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Augusta Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 11 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
When does Augusta Lake thaw?
- Augusta Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18.
Explore Augusta Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Dakota County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Augusta Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
65 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA65 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate