Shady Lake
Shady Lake in Olmsted County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 144.17 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Max depth
- 13 ft
- Area
- 144 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Olmsted County
Why Shady Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Shady Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Shady Lake is a 144-acre lake in Olmsted County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 13 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Shady Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Shady Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Shady Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shady Lake in Olmsted 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Shady Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 144 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Shady Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1987-07-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 13.38 | 0.28 lb |
| White Crappie | 11.07 | 0.15 lb |
| SLR | 6.70 | 0.48 lb |
| Common Carp | 6.33 | 1.02 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 5.00 | 0.45 lb |
| QBS | 3.30 | 1.78 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1987-07-09 survey
Largemouth bass, black and white crappie and bluegill are well represented with several year classes present. Growth is poor for the area. The turbid conditions favor white crappie. Most of the gamefish are too small to be acceptable to anglers. Carp, white sucker, silver and shorthead redhorse are abundant. No…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shady Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShadyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.27 m/yr | 2 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Shady Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Oronoco WwtpOronoco · 0.2 mi away · NPDES MN0071421Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Shady Lake
Shady Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Olmsted County
Frequently asked questions about Shady Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shady Lake?
- Shady Lake in Olmsted County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 144.17 acres.
Is Shady Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Shady Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Shady Lake?
- Shady Lake has a maximum depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 144.17 acres.
Explore Shady Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA21 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder