Cowdry Lake
Douglas County, Minnesota243 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Cowdry Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- zebra mussel
- 52 ft max depth
- Public access
Cowdry Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 17.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 242.54 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 28, 2025 caught 1.33 walleye per gill net at Cowdry Lake. DNR survey details →
Cowdry Lake is a 243-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 52 feet (25-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 19 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Cowdry Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Cowdry Lake covers about 240 acres in Douglas County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 19, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Cowdry Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Cowdry Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water17.1 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing19 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 19
- Deep water52 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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 Cowdry 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 Cowdry Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Cowdry Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 17.1 ft down. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.4 µg/L. TSI 40.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 17.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 15µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.4µg/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. | 40 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Cowdry Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Cowdry Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Jun (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (69°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 45 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cowdry Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 28, 2025 caught 1.33 walleye per gill net at Cowdry Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Cowdry Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-28 (Standard Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2025-07-28 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 28.13 | 2–18 in 2025-07-28 | 0.82 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 27.02 | ||
| Bluegill | 22.22 | 3–8 in 2025-07-28 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 8.25 | 6–13 in 2025-07-28 | 0.67 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Yellow Bullhead
From the 2025-07-28 survey
Lake Cowdry is a 243-acre moderately fertile basin located a few miles northwest of downtown Alexandria in Douglas County. Maximum and mean depths are approximately 52 and 25 feet, respectively. Lake Cowdry lies within the Long Prairie River watershed. Primary inflows come from Taylor Lake via a navigable (small boats…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Cowdry Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CowdryFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CowdryFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CowdryPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
52 ft
Average depth
25 ft
Surface area
243 acres
Shoreline
3.1 mi
Littoral zone
35%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
18 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,352 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Cowdry LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Cowdry Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cowdry Lake in Douglas 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 Cowdry 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 Cowdry Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cowdry Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.57 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable+0.03 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 19
Earliest Mar 12, 2024 · Latest May 11, 2013
Typical ice-in
Dec 6
Earliest Nov 12, 2019 · Latest Dec 19, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Mar 12
2024
26 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Cowdry Lake
Where is Cowdry Lake?
- Cowdry Lake is a lake in Douglas County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Cowdry Lake?
- Cowdry Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 17.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 242.54 acres.
Is Cowdry 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 Cowdry Lake?
- Cowdry Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, from 45 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Cowdry Lake?
- Cowdry Lake has a maximum depth of 52 feet and an average depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 242.54 acres.
What fish are in Cowdry Lake?
- Fish species found in Cowdry Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Cowdry Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Cowdry Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 28, 2025 caught 1.33 walleye per gill net at Cowdry Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Cowdry Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Cowdry Lake thaw?
- Cowdry Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19. Ice typically forms around Dec 6. The open water season is approximately 231 days.
Are there boat ramps on Cowdry Lake?
- Cowdry Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cowdry Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Cowdry Lake?
- Cowdry Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 Cowdry Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Alexandria Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Cowdry Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
142 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA142 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate