Maple Lake
Maple Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 388.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 388 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 219 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Maple Lake →
Next lake in Todd County
Maple Lake is a 388-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Todd County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet (17-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Todd County, Maple Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Maple Lake water quality
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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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 51 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 28 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 51 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Maple Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Maple Lake in Todd 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Maple Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Maple Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Maple Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 155 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Maple Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Maple Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was very high (1,202,264 cells/mL) on July 19, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Average Depth | 16.6 ft |
| Surface Area | 388 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 39% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Maple LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Maple Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
18 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-02 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 43.95 | 0.17 lb |
| Bluegill | 30.26 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Crappie | 16.90 | 0.32 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 12.36 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 10.38 | 0.85 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.43 | 3.47 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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Pumpkinseed
From the 2025-06-02 survey
Maple (DOW# 77-0181-00; Lake Class 31) is a 367-acre lake located near Gutches Grove, Minnesota. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) concrete boat ramp is located on the north end of the lake. Maple has 3.64 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake is primarily managed for Walleye…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Maple Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MapleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MapleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MaplePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.142 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (28 observations).
Estimated open water season: 219 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-19 (2012) | 2013-05-09 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-09 (2019) | 2015-12-18 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-28
EPA Impairment Status
Maple Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN77-0181-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 8 lakes in Todd County
Nearby Lakes in Todd County
Frequently asked questions about Maple Lake
What is the water quality grade for Maple Lake?
- Maple Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 388.3 acres.
Is Maple Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Maple Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 28 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Maple Lake?
- Maple Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 155 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Maple Lake?
- Maple Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet and an average depth of 16.6 feet. The lake covers 388.3 acres.
What fish are in Maple Lake?
- Fish species found in Maple Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Maple Lake is located in Todd County, Minnesota.
When does Maple Lake thaw?
- Maple Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 219 days.
Does Maple Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Maple Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was very high (1,202,264 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Maple Lake?
- Maple Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Maple Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Maple Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Todd County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Alexandria Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Maple Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
120 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA120 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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