Signalness Lake
Signalness Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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.
- Clarity
- 10.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 42 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 10
- Open water
- 235 days
Next lake in Pope County
Signalness Lake is a 42-acre mesotrophic lake in Pope County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet (8-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 10.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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.
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Water Temperature
Signalness Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Average Depth | 8.1 ft |
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 97% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Signalness LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-08 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 24.92 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.64 | 1.28 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 7.97 | 0.05 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.39 | 1.82 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.09 | 0.2 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 4.96 | 0.18 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.024 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.71 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.45 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (7 observations).
Estimated open water season: 235 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-05 (2024) | 2023-04-28 (2023) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-14 (2014) | 2024-12-06 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-05
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN61-0149-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 20 lakes in Pope County
Nearby Lakes in Pope County
Frequently asked questions about Signalness Lake
What is the water quality grade for Signalness Lake?
- Signalness Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Signalness Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Signalness Lake?
- Signalness Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Signalness Lake across LakeGrade
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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)
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