Shingobee Bay Lake
Cass County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
Shingobee Bay Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. clarity and chlorophyll-a rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
A TSI near 46 places Shingobee Bay Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. 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. Within the 132 graded lakes of Cass County, Shingobee Bay Lake sits at rank 101, near the bottom of the county list.
Zebra mussel presence at Shingobee Bay Lake means the lake's clarity numbers carry an asterisk — filtered water is not the same as nutrient-poor water. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Shingobee Bay Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. 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 2023-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 10.6 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 6.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.6 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.3 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.015 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #101 of 132 lakes in Cass County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Shingobee Bay Lake holds Grade B. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AWalker Bay LakeCass County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- AAgency Bay LakeCass County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- AHoward LakeCass County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ATen Mile LakeCass County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- BLeech LakeCass County · mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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.
- —Public Water Access Sites — Leech (Shingobee Bay)Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
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)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-07
Monitoring stations: 1