Middle Mcdougal Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Middle Mcdougal Lake grades a B, with clarity at 3.6 ft and 16 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Minnesota median. The lake's weakest score is on Secchi depth — the water looks more turbid than its phosphorus number alone would predict.

At a TSI of 51, Middle Mcdougal Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. At only 7 ft deep, Middle Mcdougal Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. Middle Mcdougal Lake covers 104 acres alongside 3.0 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Middle Mcdougal Lake sits at rank 88 of 159 in Lake County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Middle Mcdougal Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Middle Mcdougal Lake, one of 8 fish species on record for the lake. No formal public access is documented at Middle Mcdougal Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.