Smith Lake
Smith Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 36 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 666.33 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 666 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Smith Lake →
Next lake in Douglas County
Smith Lake is a 666-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet (15-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Smith Lake ranks #36 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 onlyAlgae risk
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)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 36 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 58 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 36 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Smith Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Smith Lake in Douglas 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 Smith Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Smith 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
Smith Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 116 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Smith Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 666 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 55% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Smith LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Smith 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
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-20 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 41.60 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 26.76 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 10.29 | 0.23 lb |
| IOD | 10.01 | — |
| BNS | 9.60 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.77 | 0.95 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
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-08-20 survey
This nearshore survey was conducted during summer 2024 to assess populations of non-game species and small game fish using backpack electrofishing and seining. Backpack electrofishing and/or seining were conducted at 14 stations, representing a variety of habitat types, along the shoreline of Smith Lake. The survey…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Smith Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SmithFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Smith (0922)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SmithFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SmithPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.047 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.51 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.73 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Smith 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 MN21-0016-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Smith Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Osakis WwtpOsakis · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MN0020028Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #36 of 37 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Smith Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Smith Lake
What is the water quality grade for Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 36 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 666.33 acres.
Is Smith 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. Smith Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 36 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 116 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 666.33 acres.
What fish are in Smith Lake?
- Fish species found in Smith Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Smith Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Smith Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Smith Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
102 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
MNPCA102 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory