Tadd Lake
Tadd Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 340 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 55.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 39.05 acres.
Minnesota DNR surveys at Tadd Lake average 67.55 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated April 22, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–13 inches. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 79°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 39 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Tadd Lake →
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Tadd Lake is a 39-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 24 other monitored lakes in Kandiyohi County, Tadd Lake ranks #25 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 340 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 55.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 75.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 340 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 55.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 75 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Tadd Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tadd Lake in Kandiyohi 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 Tadd Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Tadd Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Tadd Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Tadd Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR surveys at Tadd Lake average 67.55 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated April 22, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–13 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Tadd Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-04-22 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 67.55 | 0.43 lb |
| Black Crappie | 61.72 | 0.28 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 58.62 | 0.22 lb |
| Bluegill | 18.68 | 0.17 lb |
| Common Carp | 12.52 | 2.97 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.99 | 0.25 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This 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.
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
From the 2025-04-22 survey
A targeted survey of Tadd & Upper was conducted with standard survey trapnets during late-April and single frame 1/2-inch mesh trapnets in mid-September of 2025. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Tadd Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — UnnamedFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — UnnamedFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Tadd Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.65 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +159 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -29.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Tadd Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Atwater WwtpAtwater · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MN0022659Recent 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 #25 of 25 lakes in Kandiyohi County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Tadd Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Tadd Lake
Where is Tadd Lake?
- Tadd Lake is a lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Tadd Lake?
- Tadd Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 340 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 55.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 39.05 acres.
Is Tadd 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. Tadd Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 55.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Tadd Lake?
- Tadd Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Tadd Lake?
- Tadd Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 39.05 acres.
What fish are in Tadd Lake?
- Fish species found in Tadd Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Tadd Lake is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Tadd Lake?
- Minnesota DNR surveys at Tadd Lake average 67.55 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated April 22, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–13 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Tadd Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Tadd Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA32 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder