Signalness Lake
Pope County, Minnesota42 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Signalness Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 14 ft max depth
- Public access
Signalness Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 42.25 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 8, 2025 caught 0.25 walleye per trap net at Signalness Lake. DNR survey details →
Signalness Lake is a 42-acre mesotrophic lake in Pope County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet (8-foot average). Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Pope County, Signalness Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Signalness Lake covers about 42 acres in Pope County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 10, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Signalness Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Signalness Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.7 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing9 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 10
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Signalness Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Signalness Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Signalness Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Signalness Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.7 ft. Phosphorus 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5 µg/L. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10.7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 18µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Signalness Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Signalness Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 75°F) and coldest in Sep (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (65°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Signalness Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 8, 2025 caught 0.25 walleye per trap net at Signalness Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Signalness Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-08 (Targeted Survey).
10 surveys on file · most recent 2025-07-08 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 24.92 | 3–6 in 2025-07-08 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.64 | 10 in 2025-07-08 | 1.28 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 7.97 | 3 in 2025-07-08 | 0.05 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.39 | 19–20 in 2025-07-08 | 1.82 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.09 | 3–6 in 2025-07-08 | 0.2 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 4.96 | 3–7 in 2025-07-08 | 0.18 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Green Sunfish
Northern Pike
From the 2025-07-08 survey
A targeted survey of fish species in Signalness Lake, which is located in Glacial Lakes State Park, was conducted on July 8-9, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. The primary purpose of this survey was to monitor nongame fish species reintroduction efforts that took place in 2020,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Signalness Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SignalnessFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Signalness (0774)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SignalnessFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SignalnessPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
14 ft
Average depth
8.1 ft
Surface area
42 acres
Shoreline
1.4 mi
Littoral zone
97%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
0 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,214 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Signalness LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Signalness Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Signalness Lake in Pope 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 Signalness Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Signalness 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.
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.71 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.45 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 10
Earliest Mar 5, 2024 · Latest Apr 28, 2023
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 14, 2014 · Latest Dec 6, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Mar 5
2024
7 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Signalness Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN61-0149-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Pope County
Frequently asked questions about Signalness Lake
Where is Signalness Lake?
- Signalness Lake is a lake in Pope County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Signalness Lake?
- Signalness Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 42.25 acres.
Is Signalness Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Signalness Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Signalness Lake?
- Signalness Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 10 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Signalness Lake?
- Signalness Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet and an average depth of 8.1 feet. The lake covers 42.25 acres.
What fish are in Signalness Lake?
- Fish species found in Signalness Lake include black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Signalness Lake is located in Pope County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Signalness Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 8, 2025 caught 0.25 walleye per trap net at Signalness Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Signalness Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Signalness Lake thaw?
- Signalness Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 10. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 235 days.
Are there boat ramps on Signalness Lake?
- Signalness Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Signalness Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Signalness Lake?
- Signalness Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Signalness Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Pope County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
86 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA86 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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