Duck Lake
Duck Lake in Blue Earth County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 105 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 290.42 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 290 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
- Open water
- 241 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Duck Lake →
Next lake in Blue Earth County
Duck Lake is a 290-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Blue Earth County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Blue Earth County, Duck Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-25. 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.
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 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 105 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 31.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 105 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 31.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Duck Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Duck Lake in Blue Earth 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 Duck Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Duck 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
Duck Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 59 field readings (2016–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Duck Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 290 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 80% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Duck LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Duck Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-14 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 58.41 | — |
| Bluegill | 36.72 | 0.2 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 31.94 | 0.63 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 17.30 | 1.36 lb |
| SFS | 16.75 | — |
| White Crappie | 13.51 | 0.32 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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.
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
White Crappie
From the 2022-06-14 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Duck Lake was conducted on June 14-15, 2022, by DNR Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Duck Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DuckFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — DuckFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DuckPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.001 m/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (73 observations).
Estimated open water season: 241 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-07 (2000) | 1988-04-30 (1988) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 2024-01-07 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-12
EPA Impairment Status
Duck 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 MN07-0053-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Blue Earth County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Duck Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Blue Earth County
Frequently asked questions about Duck Lake
What is the water quality grade for Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake in Blue Earth County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 105 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 290.42 acres.
Is Duck 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. Duck Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 31.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 59 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 290.42 acres.
What fish are in Duck Lake?
- Fish species found in Duck Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, freshwater drum, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth buffalo, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Duck Lake is located in Blue Earth County, Minnesota.
When does Duck Lake thaw?
- Duck Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 241 days.
Are there boat ramps on Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Duck Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Duck Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Blue Earth County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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State Parks Near Duck Lake
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Where this data comes from
26 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
MNPCA26 samples · 2023–2024
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
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