Shingobee Bay Lake
Shingobee Bay Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 10.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 62°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cass County
Shingobee Bay Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Shingobee Bay Lake ranks #69 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Shingobee Bay Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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 10.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Shingobee Bay Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shingobee Bay Lake in Cass 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 Shingobee Bay 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
Shingobee Bay Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 65°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 197 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shingobee Bay Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Shingobee IslandPublic
- WalkerPublic
- Bluewater LodgeSemi-private
Fishing Shingobee Bay 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 Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shingobee Bay Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Public Water Access Sites — Leech (Shingobee Bay)Public 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 | +0.052 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Shingobee Bay 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 MN11-0203-04 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.27 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #69 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Shingobee Bay Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shingobee Bay Lake?
- Shingobee Bay Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.3 µg/L.
Is Shingobee Bay Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Shingobee Bay Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Shingobee Bay Lake?
- Shingobee Bay Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in August, from 197 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Shingobee Bay Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Shingobee Bay Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Are there boat ramps on Shingobee Bay Lake?
- Shingobee Bay Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shingobee Island, Walker, Bluewater Lodge. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shingobee Bay Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Brainerd Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX23 samples · 2022–2023
Analytical methods
- 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory