Scotch Lake
Scotch Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 569 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 598.21 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Max depth
- 11 ft
- Area
- 598 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Scotch Lake →
Next lake in Le Sueur County
Scotch Lake is a 598-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including black bullhead, common carp, and northern pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Le Sueur County, Scotch Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-27. 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 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 569 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 569 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Scotch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Scotch Lake in Le Sueur 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 Scotch Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Scotch 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 598 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Scotch LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Scotch Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-23 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 200.53 | 0.28 lb |
| Common Carp | 28.42 | 1.26 lb |
| Walleye | 12.74 | 1.59 lb |
| Black Crappie | 8.23 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.99 | 0.32 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.05 | 2.46 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
Common Carp
Walleye
Black Crappie
From the 2023-08-23 survey
Scotch Lake is a 565-acre lake located in Le Sueur County near the city of Cleveland. A public access is located on the northwest side of the lake, just off 271st Avenue. Scotch Lake is a shallow basin with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Scotch Lake experienced a strong winterkill during the winter of 2022-2023. Members…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Scotch Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ScotchFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ScotchFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ScotchPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.322 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Scotch 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 MN40-0109-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 13 lakes in Le Sueur County
Nearby Lakes in Le Sueur County
Frequently asked questions about Scotch Lake
What is the water quality grade for Scotch Lake?
- Scotch Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 569 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 598.21 acres.
Is Scotch 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. Scotch Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Scotch Lake?
- Scotch Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 598.21 acres.
What fish are in Scotch Lake?
- Fish species found in Scotch Lake include black bullhead, common carp, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch. Scotch Lake is located in Le Sueur County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Scotch Lake?
- Scotch Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Scotch Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Scotch Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Le Sueur County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA21 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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