Shallow Lake
Shallow Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 284.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Area
- 284 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Hubbard County
Shallow Lake is a 284-acre mesotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 10 feet (5-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Shallow Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-14. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Shallow Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shallow Lake in Hubbard 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.
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Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Shallow Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (84,723 cells/mL) on November 30, 2024.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Average Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 284 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Highway 18 BridgePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shallow Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-06-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 17.05 | 1.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.09 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 10.84 | 0.54 lb |
| Black Crappie | 7.15 | 0.46 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.29 | 0.19 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1.92 | 1.91 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2018-06-01 survey
Shallow Lake is located three miles west of Nevis in Hubbard County. Shallow has a surface area of 284 acres and a maximum depth of only 10 feet. There is a county owned public access with an earthen ramp located on the outlet channel at the south end of the lake. The outlet channel of Shallow connects to Lake Belle…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shallow Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShallowFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Shallow (1305)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ShallowPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Shallow Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shallow Lake?
- Shallow Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 284.3 acres.
Is Shallow Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Shallow Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Shallow Lake?
- Shallow Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet and an average depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 284.3 acres.
What fish are in Shallow Lake?
- Fish species found in Shallow Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, northern pike (silver phase), pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Shallow Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
Does Shallow Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Shallow Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (84,723 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Shallow Lake?
- Shallow Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Highway 18 Bridge. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shallow Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA14 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory