Shaokotan Lake
Shaokotan Lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 996.28 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Area
- 996 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 31
- Open water
- 239 days
Next lake in Lincoln County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Shaokotan Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 10 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Shaokotan Lake is a 996-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black bullhead, bluegill, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Shaokotan Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Shaokotan Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 45 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Shaokotan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shaokotan Lake in Lincoln 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 Shaokotan 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 →
Water Temperature
Shaokotan Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Apr (about 40°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 199 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shaokotan Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 996 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Shaokatan Lake (South)Public
- Shoakatan Lake (Northwest)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shaokotan Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
21 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-10-23 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 258.45 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 111.90 | 0.49 lb |
| Walleye | 46.87 | 2.01 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 41.02 | 0.29 lb |
| JND | 13.01 | — |
| Bluegill | 7.03 | 0.32 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
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2025-10-23 survey
Lake Shaokotan is a 995-acre, class 41 lake located near the city of Ivanhoe in Lincoln County. Lake Shaokotan is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and Bluegill. Lake Shaokotan has had sporadic natural reproduction by Walleye, but it is believed that the population is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shaokotan Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShaokotanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ShaokotanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ShaokotanPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.016 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.66 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.81 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (50 observations).
Estimated open water season: 239 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-07 (2019) | 2023-12-27 (2023) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-13
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Shaokotan Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Shaokatan (completed 1917), built primarily for other on the Yellow Medicine River; gravity-type dam, 8 ft tall and 98 ft long.
- Surface area
- 994 ac
- Normal storage
- 155 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 408 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 13.8 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- County of Lincoln
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00122 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.86 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Shaokotan Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN41-0089-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.29 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Shaokotan Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shaokotan Lake?
- Shaokotan Lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 996.28 acres.
Is Shaokotan Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Shaokotan Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Shaokotan Lake?
- Shaokotan Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 199 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Shaokotan Lake?
- Shaokotan Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 996.28 acres.
What fish are in Shaokotan Lake?
- Fish species found in Shaokotan Lake include black bullhead, bluegill, green sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Shaokotan Lake is located in Lincoln County, Minnesota.
When does Shaokotan Lake thaw?
- Shaokotan Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 31. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 239 days.
Are there boat ramps on Shaokotan Lake?
- Shaokotan Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shaokatan Lake (South), Shoakatan Lake (Northwest). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shaokotan 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 Lincoln County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Shaokotan Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
117 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA117 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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