Duck Lake
Duck Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Mean depth
- ~12 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Duck Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 12 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Crow Wing County, Duck Lake ranks #41 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-24. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Duck Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Duck Lake in Crow Wing 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.
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Water Temperature
Duck Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Sep (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2023–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Duck Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Duck 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.
Recreation & Access
- Ossawinnamakee LakePublic
- Halverson BayPublic
- Cross Lake #1Public
Fishing Duck Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Duck Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Duck (0182)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DuckPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.025 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.06 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.01 µg/L/yr | 6 |
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 MN18-0312-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.34 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #41 of 85 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Duck Lake
What is the water quality grade for Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L.
Is Duck Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Duck Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Duck Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Duck Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 12 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ossawinnamakee Lake, Halverson Bay, Cross Lake #1. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA30 samples · 2022–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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