Mccraney Lake
Mccraney Lake in Mahnomen County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 12.1 ft
- Mean depth
- ~14 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Mahnomen County
Mccraney Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Mahnomen County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 14 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Mahnomen County, Mccraney Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Mccraney Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mccraney Lake in Mahnomen 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 |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~14 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Mccraney 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.
Fishing Mccraney Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.128 m/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 12 lakes in Mahnomen County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Mccraney Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Mahnomen County
Frequently asked questions about Mccraney Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mccraney Lake?
- Mccraney Lake in Mahnomen County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.3 µg/L.
Is Mccraney Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Mccraney Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Mccraney Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Mccraney Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 14 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Mccraney Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
51 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX40 samples · 2024 - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA11 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder