South Mcdougal Lake
Lake County, Minnesota287 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for South Mcdougal Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 7 ft max depth
- Limited data
South Mcdougal Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 287.32 acres.
South Mcdougal Lake is a 287-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 7 feet (4-foot average). The lake supports 6 documented fish species including bluegill, northern pike, and pumpkinseed. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, South Mcdougal Lake ranks #33 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What South Mcdougal Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing6 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. South Mcdougal Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether South Mcdougal 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 South Mcdougal Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for South Mcdougal Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.8 µg/L. TSI 57.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 31µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 6.8µg/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. | 57 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about South Mcdougal Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
South Mcdougal Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in Jun (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (60°F) to its warmest (70°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full South Mcdougal Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
Max depth
7 ft
Average depth
4 ft
Surface area
287 acres
Shoreline
5.8 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
No
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
14 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,722 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
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Stays near South Mcdougal Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing South Mcdougal Lake
EPA Impairment Status
South Mcdougal Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0659-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about South Mcdougal Lake
Where is South Mcdougal Lake?
- South Mcdougal Lake is a lake in Lake County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of South Mcdougal Lake?
- South Mcdougal Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 287.32 acres.
Is South Mcdougal Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. South Mcdougal Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of South Mcdougal Lake?
- South Mcdougal Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is South Mcdougal Lake?
- South Mcdougal Lake has a maximum depth of 7 feet and an average depth of 4 feet. The lake covers 287.32 acres.
What fish are in South Mcdougal Lake?
- Fish species found in South Mcdougal Lake include bluegill, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. South Mcdougal Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Can I fish at South Mcdougal Lake?
- Public access to South Mcdougal Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. 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.
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Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA20 samples · 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