Shetek Lake
Shetek Lake in Murray County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 102 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 3462.22 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Area
- 3,462 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 3
- Open water
- 238 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Shetek Lake →
Next lake in Murray County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Shetek Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 10 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Shetek Lake is a 3,462-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Murray County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 10 feet (5-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 6 public boat landings. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Murray County, Shetek Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. 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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 102 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 31.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 70.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 102 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 31.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Shetek Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shetek Lake in Murray 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Shetek Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Shetek 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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Shetek Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
Water Temperature
Shetek Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Aug (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shetek Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Average Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 3,462 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 36 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Shetek Lake (East)Public
- Lake Shetek State ParkPublic
- Shetek Lake Marsh's LandingPublic
- Shetek Lake (Southwest)Public
- Keeley IslandPublic
- Lakes Marine and SportsSemi-private
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shetek 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.
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (117 observations).
Estimated open water season: 238 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2026-03-02 (2026) | 1962-04-24 (1962) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-01 (1991) | 2005-12-25 (2005) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-02
EPA Impairment Status
Shetek 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 MN51-0046-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 9 lakes in Murray County
Nearby Lakes in Murray County
Frequently asked questions about Shetek Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shetek Lake?
- Shetek Lake in Murray County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 102 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 3462.22 acres.
Is Shetek Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Shetek Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 31.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Shetek Lake?
- Shetek Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Shetek Lake?
- Shetek Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet and an average depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 3462.22 acres.
What fish are in Shetek Lake?
- Fish species found in Shetek Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, quillback, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Shetek Lake is located in Murray County, Minnesota.
When does Shetek Lake thaw?
- Shetek Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 3. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 238 days.
Are there boat ramps on Shetek Lake?
- Shetek Lake has 6 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shetek Lake (East), Lake Shetek State Park, Shetek Lake Marsh's Landing, Shetek Lake (Southwest), among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shetek Lake across LakeGrade
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA9 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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
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