Emily Lake
Le Sueur County, Minnesota300 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Emily Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 37 ft max depth
- Public access
Emily Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 61 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 42.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 300 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 11, 2024 caught 0.44 walleye per trap net at Emily Lake. DNR survey details →
Emily Lake is a 300-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Le Sueur County, Emily Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-26. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Emily Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing14 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 30
- Deep water37 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyAlgae risk
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 Emily 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 Emily Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Emily Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 61 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 42.7 µg/L. TSI 66.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 61µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 42.7µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 66 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Emily Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Emily Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Oct (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (65°F) to its warmest (80°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 66 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Emily Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Emily Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (409,261 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 11, 2024 caught 0.44 walleye per trap net at Emily Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Emily Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-11 (Targeted Survey).
15 surveys on file · most recent 2024-07-11 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 46.80 | 3–9 in 2024-07-11 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 41.82 | 2–6 in 2024-07-11 | 0.12 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 11.08 | 16 in 2024-07-11 | 1.48 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.59 | 4–5 in 2024-07-11 | 0.1 lb |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | 3.69 | 13–26 in 2024-07-11 | 3.93 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 3.26 | 4 in 1995-07-14 | 0.83 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.
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-07-11 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Emily Lake was conducted on July 15th 2024, by 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 Emily Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — EmilyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — EmilyFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — EmilyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
37 ft
Surface area
300 acres
Shoreline
6.5 mi
Littoral zone
55%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
79 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
965 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Emily 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 Emily Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Emily Lake in Le Sueur 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Emily Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Emily 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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Emily Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving4 years
Phosphorus
Improving-10 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+8 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 30
Earliest Mar 1, 2024 · Latest Apr 29, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 16, 2014 · Latest Dec 19, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Mar 15
2025
16 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Emily Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Emily (completed 1939), built primarily for recreation on the Shanaska Creek-TR; concrete-type dam, 9 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 315 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN01161 · Operator website
Nearby Lakes in Le Sueur County
Frequently asked questions about Emily Lake
Where is Emily Lake?
- Emily Lake is a lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Emily Lake?
- Emily Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 61 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 42.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 300 acres.
Is Emily 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 Emily Lake?
- Emily Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in October, from 66 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Emily Lake?
- Emily Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet. The lake covers 300 acres.
What fish are in Emily Lake?
- Fish species found in Emily Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Emily Lake is located in Le Sueur County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Emily Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 11, 2024 caught 0.44 walleye per trap net at Emily Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Emily Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Emily Lake thaw?
- Emily Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 30. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 246 days.
Does Emily Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Emily Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (409,261 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Emily Lake?
- Emily Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Emily Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Emily Lake?
- Emily 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 Emily 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 Le Sueur County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Emily Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
145 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
MNPCA145 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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