Mccormic Lake
Mccormic Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 67 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 44 µg/L.
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Mean depth
- ~12 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Mccormic Lake →
Next lake in Stearns County
Mccormic Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 12 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Mccormic Lake ranks #32 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Mccormic Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 67 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 44 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 67 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 44 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Mccormic Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mccormic Lake in Stearns 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 Mccormic Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Mccormic 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
Mccormic Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 46 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mccormic Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Mccormic Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- McCormic LakePublic
Fishing Mccormic Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mccormic Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Aquatic Plant Report — McCormic (1982)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — McCormicPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Mccormic 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 MN73-0273-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Mccormic Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Sauk Centre WwtpSauk Centre · 1.9 mi away · NPDES MN0024821
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 #32 of 32 lakes in Stearns County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Mccormic Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Mccormic Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mccormic Lake?
- Mccormic Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 67 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 44 µg/L.
Is Mccormic Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Mccormic Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 44 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mccormic Lake?
- Mccormic Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 46 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mccormic Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Mccormic Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 12 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Mccormic Lake?
- Mccormic Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include McCormic Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Mccormic Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Stearns County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
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
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA16 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- 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
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