Fedji Lake
Fedji Lake in Watonwan County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 171.99 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 6 ft
- Area
- 172 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Watonwan County
Fedji Lake is a 172-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Watonwan County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 6 feet (5-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Watonwan County, Fedji Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 45 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Fedji Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fedji Lake in Watonwan 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
Fedji Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in Sep (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fedji Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 6 ft |
| Average Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 172 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fedji LakePublic
Fishing Fedji Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2010-06-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 55.80 | 0.19 lb |
| Common Carp | 18.55 | 0.44 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 0.11 | 0.22 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 0.11 | 0.88 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.
Black Bullhead
Common Carp
Largemouth Bass
From the 2010-06-01 survey
Fedji Lake, near the town of Madelia in Watonwan County, is a 184 acre lake with a maximum depth of 6 feet. Fedji Lake historically had a good population of yellow perch. Fedji has been used as a yellow perch source for stocking Windom Area lakes prior to 2010, however fish management has been limited on Fedji Lake…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fedji Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FedjiFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FedjiFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FedjiPublic 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 | -0.124 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.79 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.16 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Fedji Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Madelia WwtpMadelia · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MN0024040MajorRecent violation
- Odin-Ormsby WwtpOrmsby · 2.3 mi away · NPDES MN0069442
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Watonwan County
Nearby Lakes in Watonwan County
Frequently asked questions about Fedji Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fedji Lake?
- Fedji Lake in Watonwan County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 171.99 acres.
Is Fedji Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Fedji Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Fedji Lake?
- Fedji Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 24 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Fedji Lake?
- Fedji Lake has a maximum depth of 6 feet and an average depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 171.99 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Fedji Lake?
- Fedji Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fedji Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fedji Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
28 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
MNPCA28 samples · 2022–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory