Moody Lake
Moody Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 65 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 45.33 acres.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 56°F
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- Area
- 45 acres
- 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 Moody Lake →
Next lake in Chisago County
Moody Lake is a 45-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 48 feet (10-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 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 29 other monitored lakes in Chisago County, Moody Lake ranks #24 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Moody Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
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 ft. Phosphorus level: 65 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 65 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Moody Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Moody Lake in Chisago 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 Moody Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Moody Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Moody Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 56°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 58°F) and coldest in May (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 244 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Moody Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Average Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 49% |
| Public Access | No |
Fishing Moody Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.07 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -22 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -9.93 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Moody 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 MN13-0023-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #24 of 30 lakes in Chisago County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Moody Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about Moody Lake
What is the water quality grade for Moody Lake?
- Moody Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 65 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 45.33 acres.
Is Moody 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. Moody Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Moody Lake?
- Moody Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August, from 244 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Moody Lake?
- Moody Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet and an average depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 45.33 acres.
Explore Moody Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Chisago County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Moody Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
56 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA56 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder