Mckeown Lake
Mckeown Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 167.96 acres.
- Clarity
- 16.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 168 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 219 days
Next lake in Cass County
Mckeown Lake is a 168-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet (5-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Mckeown Lake ranks #65 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 16.1 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Mckeown Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mckeown Lake in Cass 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
Mckeown Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Aug (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mckeown Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Average Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 168 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 76% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Woman Lake (Northwest)Public
Fishing Mckeown Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1992-08-13 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 17.29 | 0.24 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.04 | 0.19 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.63 | 3.29 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.89 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 2.46 | 0.4 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 2.13 | 1 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1992-08-13 survey
Fish populations conducted in 1959, 1978, and 1992.Muskellunge: None sampled in 1992. Only one each in 1959 and 1978.Northern Pike - Abundance (as measured by gillnet catch rate) higher than during previous assessments. Quality size (greater than 28 inches long) fish present. Natural reproduction good.Cisco…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mckeown Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — McKeownFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — McKeown (1599)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.015 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.03 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (25 observations).
Estimated open water season: 219 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2006-04-11 (2006) | 1996-05-03 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-07 (2003) | 2006-11-30 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-17
EPA Impairment Status
Mckeown 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 MN11-0283-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.51 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #65 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Mckeown Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mckeown Lake?
- Mckeown Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 167.96 acres.
Is Mckeown Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Mckeown Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mckeown Lake?
- Mckeown Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 15 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mckeown Lake?
- Mckeown Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet and an average depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 167.96 acres.
When does Mckeown Lake thaw?
- Mckeown Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Nov 23. The open water season is approximately 219 days.
Are there boat ramps on Mckeown Lake?
- Mckeown Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Woman Lake (Northwest). Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
52 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA52 samples · 2021–2025
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate