Buck Lake
Scott County, MinnesotaView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Buck Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Limited data
Buck Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 272 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14 µg/L.
Buck Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Scott County, Minnesota. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Scott County, Buck Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-04. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Buck 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 Buck Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Buck Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 272 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 14 µg/L. TSI 68.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 272µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 14µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 68 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Buck Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Buck Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Oct (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2019–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Buck Lake water temperature breakdown →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Buck Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buck Lake in Scott 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Buck Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Buck Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fishing Buck Lake
Nearby Lakes in Scott County
Frequently asked questions about Buck Lake
Where is Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake is a lake in Scott County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 272 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14 µg/L.
Is Buck Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in October, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Can I fish at Buck Lake?
- Public access to Buck Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. 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 Buck Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Scott County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
52 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA52 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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.