Lake Monongalia

Lake Monongalia earns an F: phosphorus readings still being added and clarity at 3.3 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. A maximum depth of just 14 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. Lake Monongalia covers 2,290 acres alongside 37.8 miles of shoreline, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Lake Monongalia ranks 33 of 35 in Kandiyohi County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Lake Monongalia — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Lake Monongalia, one of 13 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Lake Monongalia makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.