Middle Lagoon Lake
Lake County, IndianaView mapDirections
IDEM publishes the water-quality measurements for Middle Lagoon Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Limited data
Middle Lagoon Lake in Lake County, Indiana has water-quality measurements published by IDEM, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 8.4 µg/L.
Middle Lagoon Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Lake County, Indiana. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Middle Lagoon Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, IDEM, last sampled 2024-07-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Middle Lagoon Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Middle Lagoon Lake
These are the measurements IDEM publishes for Middle Lagoon Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 8.4 µg/L. TSI 35.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 8.4µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 35 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Middle Lagoon Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Middle Lagoon Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (61°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 206 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Middle Lagoon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Middle Lagoon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Middle Lagoon Lake in Lake County, Indiana — 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Middle Lagoon Lake
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Fishing Middle Lagoon Lake
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2020–2024). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Phosphorus
Worsening+3.05 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.1 µg/L/yr2 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
53 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Middle Lagoon Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Us Grand Calumet DredgingGary · 3.4 mi away · NPDES IN0061077MajorRecent violation
- United States Steel Corp - Gary Works FacilityGary · 3.4 mi away · NPDES IN0000281MajorRecent violation
- Illiana Disposal And Recycling Transfer Station # 4 Lake StationLake Station · 2 mi away · NPDES INRM01223Recent violation
- Cleveland-Cliffs Plate LlcGary · 3.4 mi away · NPDES IN0062197Recent violation
- Lake Street Drainage Improvements & Roadway ReconstructionGary · 1.1 mi away · NPDES INRA03777
- In Dot Des 1601716 Contract R-39780 Us 12/20 Reconstruction Project - ReconnectiGary · 1.2 mi away · NPDES INRA05988
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Middle Lagoon Lake
Where is Middle Lagoon Lake?
- Middle Lagoon Lake is a lake in Lake County, Indiana. Its water-quality measurements are published by IDEM and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Middle Lagoon Lake?
- Middle Lagoon Lake in Lake County, Indiana has water-quality measurements published by IDEM, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 8.4 µg/L.
Is Middle Lagoon Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Middle Lagoon Lake?
- Middle Lagoon Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September, from 206 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Middle Lagoon Lake across LakeQuality
Planning a trip around Indiana Dunes?
Middle Lagoon Lake is about 9 miles from Indiana Dunes National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Indiana Dunes →More lakes in Indiana
Other Lakes in Indiana
Oligotrophic Lakes in Indiana
Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- National Park Service Water Resources Division
11NPSWRD_WQX5 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Alkaline Persulfate Digestion for Total N and P in Water
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)