Middle Lake
Middle Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 368.49 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 11 ft
- Area
- 368 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Kandiyohi County
Middle Lake is a 368-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 11 feet (7-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black bullhead, bluegill, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 24 other monitored lakes in Kandiyohi County, Middle Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-06-21. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 5.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Middle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Middle Lake in Kandiyohi 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Middle Lake
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Water Temperature
Middle Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 35 field readings (2019–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Middle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11 ft |
| Average Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 368 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Middle LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Middle Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-03 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 46.07 | 0.03 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 39.47 | 0.5 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 18.78 | 0.03 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.67 | 2.01 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 7.56 | 0.17 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.96 | 0.16 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
Black Bullhead
Green Sunfish
Northern Pike
From the 2024-06-03 survey
A targeted survey of Middle Lake was conducted in early June of 2024. Nine standard lake survey nets were used to sample the fish population in Middle Lake. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e. spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Middle Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MiddleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Middle (0855)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MiddlePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.122 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.04 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +3.63 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Middle Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN34-0206-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.44 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 25 lakes in Kandiyohi County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Middle 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.
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Middle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Middle Lake?
- Middle Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 368.49 acres.
Is Middle Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Middle Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Middle Lake?
- Middle Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 35 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Middle Lake?
- Middle Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet and an average depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 368.49 acres.
What fish are in Middle Lake?
- Fish species found in Middle Lake include black bullhead, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch. Middle Lake is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Middle Lake?
- Middle Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Middle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Middle Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Kandiyohi County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA16 samples · 2021–2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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