Middle Sucker Lake
Middle Sucker Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 17.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Middle Sucker Lake →
Next lake in Cass County
Middle Sucker Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Middle Sucker Lake ranks #104 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 17.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 17.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Middle Sucker Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Middle Sucker 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Middle Sucker Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Middle Sucker Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Middle Sucker Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in Oct (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 149 field readings (2023–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Middle Sucker Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Middle Sucker Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Middle Sucker Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Portage (1650)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.016 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.33 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.81 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #104 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Middle Sucker Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Middle Sucker Lake
What is the water quality grade for Middle Sucker Lake?
- Middle Sucker Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 17.5 µg/L.
Is Middle Sucker Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Middle Sucker Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 17.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Middle Sucker Lake?
- Middle Sucker Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 149 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
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Where this data comes from
47 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX47 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)