Mcdonough Lake

Mcdonough Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. At only 13 ft deep, Mcdonough Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. The lake is compact at 18 acres, with 0.8 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Among the 36 graded lakes in Dakota County, Mcdonough Lake sits at rank 10, above the county median.

Mcdonough Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. The fishery is panfish-dominated — bluegill, crappie, and sunfish among the 4 species documented for the lake. No formal public access is documented at Mcdonough Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.