Skip to main content
LakeQuality
A

Shemahgun Lake

Beltrami County, MinnesotaOligotrophic

Shemahgun Lake sits at the top of the Minnesota PCA grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Minnesota. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Shemahgun Lake ranks 10 of 92 in Beltrami County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.

No invasive species are currently listed at Shemahgun Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Shemahgun Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Track Shemahgun Lake

Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)15 ftA
Phosphorus10 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)38Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.611 m/yr6
Phosphorus Improving-0.77 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Location

Loading map…

County Ranking

Ranked #10 of 92 lakes in Beltrami County

Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County

State Parks Near Shemahgun Lake

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2025-09-10

Monitoring stations: 1