Shamineau Lake
Shamineau Lake in Morrison County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 1434.02 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 52 ft
- Area
- 1,434 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 225 days
Next lake in Morrison County
Shamineau Lake is a 1,434-acre mesotrophic lake in Morrison County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 52 feet (17-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Morrison County, Shamineau Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Shamineau Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shamineau Lake in Morrison 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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Water Temperature
Shamineau Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shamineau Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 52 ft |
| Average Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,434 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 10.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 52% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Stanchfield LakePublic
- Round LakePublic
- Shamineau Lake (East)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shamineau 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
24 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-04-15 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 46.33 | — |
| Bluegill | 30.48 | 0.11 lb |
| Muskellunge | 21.13 | 12.63 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 18.50 | 0.83 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 14.52 | — |
| Walleye | 10.13 | 1.89 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.
Bluegill
Muskellunge
Largemouth Bass
Walleye
From the 2025-04-15 survey
Shamineau Lake (DOW # 49-0127-00; Lake Class 27) is a 1,434-acre lake located near Motley, Minnesota. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) owned concrete boat ramp is located on the west shore and a township owned gravel boat ramp is located on the east shore. Shamineau Lake has 10.34 miles of shoreline…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shamineau Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShamineauFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Shamineau (1914)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ShamineauFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ShamineauPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.289 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.34 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.04 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (76 observations).
Estimated open water season: 225 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-24 (2012) | 2013-05-14 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-21 (2017) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-04
EPA Impairment Status
Shamineau 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 MN49-0127-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 8 lakes in Morrison County
Nearby Lakes in Morrison County
Frequently asked questions about Shamineau Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shamineau Lake?
- Shamineau Lake in Morrison County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 1434.02 acres.
Is Shamineau Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Shamineau Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Shamineau Lake?
- Shamineau Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Shamineau Lake?
- Shamineau Lake has a maximum depth of 52 feet and an average depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 1434.02 acres.
What fish are in Shamineau Lake?
- Fish species found in Shamineau Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Shamineau Lake is located in Morrison County, Minnesota.
When does Shamineau Lake thaw?
- Shamineau Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Are there boat ramps on Shamineau Lake?
- Shamineau Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Stanchfield Lake, Round Lake, Shamineau Lake (East). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shamineau 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 Morrison County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
76 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA76 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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