Mcdonough Lake
Mcdonough Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 18.08 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 13 ft
- Area
- 18 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Dakota County
Mcdonough Lake is a 18-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 13 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 4 documented fish species including black bullhead, bluegill, and green sunfish. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Mcdonough Lake ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-05. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Mcdonough Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mcdonough 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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Water Temperature
Mcdonough Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 33 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mcdonough Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 0.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 83% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mcdonough Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2015-07-27 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 2.50 | 0.1 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.75 | 0.04 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 1.75 | 0.32 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 0.25 | 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.
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Black Bullhead
Green Sunfish
From the 2015-07-27 survey
McDonough Lake is a shallow marshy 15-acre lake located in the City of Eagan. The lake has a walking trail and fishing pier and is located entirely within the bounds of the Lebanon Hills Park, which is managed by Dakota County Parks and Recreation Department. McDonough Lake has been managed by the Fishing in the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mcdonough Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — McDonoughFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.078 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.09 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Mcdonough 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 MN19-0064-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.02 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #16 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Mcdonough Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Mcdonough Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mcdonough Lake?
- Mcdonough Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 18.08 acres.
Is Mcdonough Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Mcdonough Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mcdonough Lake?
- Mcdonough Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 33 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mcdonough Lake?
- Mcdonough Lake has a maximum depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 18.08 acres.
What fish are in Mcdonough Lake?
- Fish species found in Mcdonough Lake include black bullhead, bluegill, green sunfish, pumpkinseed. Mcdonough Lake is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
145 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
MNPCA145 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
- 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
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder