South Center Lake
South Center Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 109 ft. Surface area: 909.69 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 55°F
- Max depth
- 109 ft
- Area
- 910 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 2
- Open water
- 245 days
Next lake in Chisago County
Free interactive depth-contour map of South Center Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 105 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
South Center Lake is a 910-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 109 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Chisago County, South Center Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 14 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near South Center Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near South Center Lake in Chisago 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
South Center Lake typically sits around 55°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 55°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 57°F) and coldest in Apr (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,165 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full South Center Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 109 ft |
| Surface Area | 910 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 62% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- South Center LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing South Center 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
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-07 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 63.34 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 53.54 | — |
| JND | 25.60 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 23.75 | 1.08 lb |
| SFS | 21.13 | — |
| Black Crappie | 14.43 | 0.2 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
Black Crappie
From the 2023-08-07 survey
South Center Lake is an 835 acre lake in southern Chisago County best suited for Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Black Crappie. Although much of the lake is less than 15 feet (561 acres or 67%), the lake has a maximum depth of 109 feet. Water clarity is low, with visibility to only 3 feet. A high amount of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for South Center Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — South CenterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — South CenterFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — South CenterPublic 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 | ↓ Declining | -0.092 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.03 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.61 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (23 observations).
Estimated open water season: 245 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2013-05-02 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2000-11-18 (2000) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-04-01
EPA Impairment Status
South Center 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 MN13-0027-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 30 lakes in Chisago County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
South Center Lake holds Grade C. 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 Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about South Center Lake
What is the water quality grade for South Center Lake?
- South Center Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 109 ft. Surface area: 909.69 acres.
Is South Center Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. South Center Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 14 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of South Center Lake?
- South Center Lake typically sits around 55°F at the surface in August, from 1,165 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is South Center Lake?
- South Center Lake has a maximum depth of 109 feet. The lake covers 909.69 acres.
What fish are in South Center Lake?
- Fish species found in South Center Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. South Center Lake is located in Chisago County, Minnesota.
When does South Center Lake thaw?
- South Center Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 2. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 245 days.
Are there boat ramps on South Center Lake?
- South Center Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include South Center Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore South Center Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Chisago County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
248 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
MNPCA248 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 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