Buffalo Lake
Buffalo Lake in Murray County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 99 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8.5 ft. Surface area: 126.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 8.5 ft
- Area
- 127 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Buffalo Lake →
Next lake in Murray County
Buffalo Lake is a 127-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Murray County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Murray County, Buffalo Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 1.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 99 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 20.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 99 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 20.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Buffalo Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buffalo Lake in Murray 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 Buffalo Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Buffalo Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Buffalo Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Sep (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Buffalo Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 127 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Buffalo LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Buffalo Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Buffalo 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 MN51-0018-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Buffalo Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Shetek Area Water & Sewer District WwtpCurrie · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MN0070947Recent violation
- Currie WwtpCurrie · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MN0025682Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 9 lakes in Murray County
Nearby Lakes in Murray County
Frequently asked questions about Buffalo Lake
What is the water quality grade for Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake in Murray County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 99 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8.5 ft. Surface area: 126.9 acres.
Is Buffalo Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Buffalo Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 20.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake has a maximum depth of 8.5 feet. The lake covers 126.9 acres.
What fish are in Buffalo Lake?
- Fish species found in Buffalo Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, green sunfish, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, walleye, yellow perch. Buffalo Lake is located in Murray County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Buffalo Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Buffalo Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
9 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
MNPCA9 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory