O'Dowd Lake
O'Dowd Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 300.52 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 79°F
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 301 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 3
- Open water
- 241 days
Next lake in Scott County
O'Dowd Lake is a 301-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Scott County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 22 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Scott County, O'Dowd Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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 5.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 27.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 27.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near O'Dowd Lake
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Water Temperature
O'Dowd Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in Apr (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 88 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full O'Dowd Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 301 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 78% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- O'Dowd LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing O'Dowd Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 49.01 | 0.46 lb |
| Bluegill | 32.02 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 17.96 | 0.22 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.04 | 1.36 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 4.80 | 0.2 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.48 | 0.15 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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-08-01 survey
O'Dowd is a 300-acre (235 littoral acres) lake with a maximum depth of 22 feet. O'Dowd is located in the City of Shakopee, in northern Scott County. O'Dowd is actively managed for Walleye and Northern Pike, with secondary emphasis on Largemouth Bass. O'Dowd also supports catchable populations of Bluegill and Black…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for O'Dowd Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — O'DowdFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — O'DowdFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — O'DowdPublic 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 | ↑ Improving | +0.117 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +42.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +7.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
Estimated open water season: 241 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-14 (2016) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2022-11-17 (2022) | 2021-12-07 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-11
EPA Impairment Status
O'Dowd 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 MN70-0095-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 21 lakes in Scott County
Nearby Lakes in Scott County
Frequently asked questions about O'Dowd Lake
What is the water quality grade for O'Dowd Lake?
- O'Dowd Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 300.52 acres.
Is O'Dowd Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. O'Dowd Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of O'Dowd Lake?
- O'Dowd Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August, from 88 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is O'Dowd Lake?
- O'Dowd Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 300.52 acres.
What fish are in O'Dowd Lake?
- Fish species found in O'Dowd Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. O'Dowd Lake is located in Scott County, Minnesota.
When does O'Dowd Lake thaw?
- O'Dowd Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 3. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 241 days.
Are there boat ramps on O'Dowd Lake?
- O'Dowd Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include O'Dowd Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore O'Dowd Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Scott County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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State Parks Near O'Dowd Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
131 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA131 samples · 2020–2025
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate