Lemay Lake
Lemay Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15.5 ft. Surface area: 35.74 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Max depth
- 15.5 ft
- Area
- 36 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Dakota County
Lemay Lake is a 36-acre mesotrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Lemay Lake ranks #9 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lemay Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lemay Lake in Dakota 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 36 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 102% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lemay Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-05-22 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 33.34 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 26.36 | 0.21 lb |
| Bluegill | 20.03 | 0.11 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 16.39 | 0.77 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 8.00 | 0.14 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 7.00 | 0.19 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 Crappie
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-05-22 survey
Jointly managed by the MNDNR and the City of Eagan, Lemay Lake is a 37-acre, class 37 FiN Lake located at Pilot Knob and Jurdy Road. Moonshine Park provides shorefishing opportunities and a place to launch a canoe or kayak. The sport fish community consists of Black Crappie, Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lemay Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LemayFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LemayFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.055 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.75 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lemay 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 MN19-0081-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.14 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Lemay Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lemay Lake?
- Lemay Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15.5 ft. Surface area: 35.74 acres.
Is Lemay Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Lemay Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lemay Lake?
- Lemay Lake has a maximum depth of 15.5 feet. The lake covers 35.74 acres.
What fish are in Lemay Lake?
- Fish species found in Lemay Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch. Lemay Lake is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
232 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
MNPCA232 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder