Dunnigan Lake
Dunnigan Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 81.13 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 81 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lake County
Dunnigan Lake is a 81-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including bluegill, rock bass, and smallmouth bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Dunnigan Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Dunnigan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dunnigan Lake in Lake 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
Dunnigan Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Nov (about 46°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 90 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dunnigan Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 81 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dunnigan Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-05-17 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 9.75 | 0.39 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.66 | 0.08 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.92 | 0.21 lb |
| Walleye | 2.57 | 1.58 lb |
| IOD | 1.31 | — |
| White Sucker | 0.36 | 2.48 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.
Smallmouth Bass
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Walleye
From the 2022-05-17 survey
A targeted survey was completed in spring of 2022 using night electrofishing and trap netting to sample the Smallmouth Bass and Walleye populations. The purpose of the survey was to determine if these two spring sampling techniques could be used to produce an accurate population estimate for either species. Night…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dunnigan Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DunniganFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dunnigan (0972)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — DunniganFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DunniganPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.555 m/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Dunnigan Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0664-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Dunnigan Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dunnigan Lake?
- Dunnigan Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 81.13 acres.
Is Dunnigan Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Dunnigan Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Dunnigan Lake?
- Dunnigan Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 90 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dunnigan Lake?
- Dunnigan Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 81.13 acres.
What fish are in Dunnigan Lake?
- Fish species found in Dunnigan Lake include bluegill, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker. Dunnigan Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Explore Dunnigan Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
17 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2025 - Eastern Regional Office
USFSEASTERN2 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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