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LakeQuality

Mccoy Lake

D
Grade D — Nutrient-rich
Nutrient-rich · #34 of 81 lakes in the county · 2.1 ft clear · Eutrophic
Limited DataEutrophic

Mccoy Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 95 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L.

Clarity
2.1 ft
Type
Eutrophic
Trend
Declining
Public access
Yes

Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Mccoy Lake

Next lake in Hennepin County

FStaring Lake2.6 ft clear · Hennepin CountyView →
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Mccoy Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. 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 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Mccoy Lake ranks #34 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-05-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Grade only

Limited 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

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Minneapolis

Get alerts for Mccoy Lake

Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)

Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 95 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)2.1 ftNot graded
Phosphorus95 µg/LPoor
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)8 µg/LFair
Trophic State Index (TSI)62Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Where to stay near Mccoy Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mccoy Lake in Hennepin 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 Mccoy Lake are listed below.

Top-rated places to stay near Mccoy 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 →

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access
  • Staring LakePublic

Fishing Mccoy Lake

Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.041 m/yr5
Phosphorus Declining+1.69 µg/L/yr5
Chlorophyll-a Declining+2.69 µg/L/yr5
See year-by-year chart →

EPA Impairment Status

Mccoy Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

MercuryNutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0078-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.85 km)

County Ranking

Ranked #34 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County

Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades

Mccoy Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.

Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County

Frequently asked questions about Mccoy Lake

What is the water quality grade for Mccoy Lake?

Mccoy Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 95 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L.

Is Mccoy 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. Mccoy Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

Are there boat ramps on Mccoy Lake?

Mccoy Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Staring Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota

Where this data comes from

43 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface WaterMNPCA43 samples · 2020–2023

Analytical methods

  • Field measurement/observation, generic method
  • Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
  • 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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

Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory