Swan Lake
McLeod County, Minnesota352 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Swan Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 10 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Swan Lake in McLeod County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 87 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 351.57 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on October 7, 2025 caught 3.00 largemouth bass per gill net at Swan Lake. DNR survey details →
Swan Lake is a 352-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in McLeod County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in McLeod County, Swan Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-19. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Swan Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing14 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 8
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Swan 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 Swan Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Swan 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 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 87 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 37.7 µg/L. TSI 66.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 87µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 37.7µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 66 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Swan Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Swan Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (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 (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Swan Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Swan Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (731,139 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on October 7, 2025 caught 3.00 largemouth bass per gill net at Swan Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Swan Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
17 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-10-07 (Targeted Survey).
17 surveys on file · most recent 2025-10-07 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 75.96 | 9–12 in 2022-06-14 | 0.41 lb |
| Black Crappie | 61.23 | 2–13 in 2025-10-07 | 0.18 lb |
| Walleye | 36.39 | 3–13 in 2024-09-26 | 1.39 lb |
| Bluegill | 18.25 | 2–8 in 2025-10-07 | 0.22 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 15.00 | 5–10 in 2022-06-14 | 0.13 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 14.56 |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Walleye
Bluegill
From the 2025-10-07 survey
Swan is a small-sized lake (351 acres) located northwest of the Town of Silver Lake in McLeod County. A state-owned access with a small gravel parking area and a single cement boat ramp is present on the east shore. A small fishing dock is also present at the east access. A larger, county-owned access, is available on…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Swan Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SwanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SwanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SwanPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
10 ft
Surface area
352 acres
Shoreline
2.9 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
11 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,037 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Swan Lake (Northwest)Public
- Swan Lake (East)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Swan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Swan Lake in McLeod 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Swan Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Swan Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Swan Lake
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 8
Earliest Mar 7, 2000 · Latest Apr 29, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 25
Earliest Nov 1, 1991 · Latest Dec 18, 1982
Most recent ice-out
Apr 29
2013
82 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in McLeod County
Frequently asked questions about Swan Lake
Where is Swan Lake?
- Swan Lake is a lake in McLeod County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Swan Lake?
- Swan Lake in McLeod County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 87 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 351.57 acres.
Is Swan Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Swan Lake?
- Swan Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Swan Lake?
- Swan Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 351.57 acres.
What fish are in Swan Lake?
- Fish species found in Swan Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Swan Lake is located in McLeod County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Swan Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on October 7, 2025 caught 3.00 largemouth bass per gill net at Swan Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Swan Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Swan Lake thaw?
- Swan Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 8. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 231 days.
Does Swan Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Swan Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (731,139 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Swan Lake?
- Swan Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Swan Lake (Northwest), Swan Lake (East). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Swan Lake?
- Swan Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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.
Explore Swan Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in McLeod County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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
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