Swamp Lake
Swamp Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 122 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 38 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- ~26 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Swamp Lake →
Next lake in Scott County
Swamp Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Scott County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 26 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Scott County, Swamp Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 122 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 38 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 122 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 38 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Swamp Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Swamp Lake in Scott 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 Swamp Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Swamp Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Swamp Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 71°F) and coldest in Apr (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 13 field readings (2024–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Swamp Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~26 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~7 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Swamp Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Swamp Lake
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 21 lakes in Scott County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Swamp 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.
Nearby Lakes in Scott County
Frequently asked questions about Swamp Lake
What is the water quality grade for Swamp Lake?
- Swamp Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 122 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 38 µg/L.
Is Swamp 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. Swamp Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 38 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Swamp Lake?
- Swamp Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 13 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Swamp Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Swamp Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 26 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
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Where this data comes from
44 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA44 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder