Quigley Lake
Quigley Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 141 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Quigley Lake →
Next lake in Dakota County
Quigley Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Quigley Lake ranks #31 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-08. 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.
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)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 141 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 23.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 141 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 23.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Quigley Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Quigley Lake in Dakota 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 Quigley Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Quigley Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Quigley Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 81°F) and coldest in Jul (about 75°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2016–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Quigley Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Quigley Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.064 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.29 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.34 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Quigley 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 MN19-0066-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.45 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #31 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Quigley 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.
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Quigley Lake
What is the water quality grade for Quigley Lake?
- Quigley Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 141 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.5 µg/L.
Is Quigley 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. Quigley Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 23.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Quigley Lake?
- Quigley Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Quigley Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
26 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA26 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
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