Talcot Lake
Talcot Lake in Cottonwood County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 0.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 367 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 193 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 873.05 acres.
- Clarity
- 0.2 ft
- Max depth
- 6 ft
- Area
- 873 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cottonwood County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Talcot Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 6 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Why Talcot Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Talcot Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Talcot Lake is a 873-acre lake in Cottonwood County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake supports 19 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Talcot Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Talcot Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 0.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 367 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 193 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 92.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 367 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 193 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 92 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Talcot Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Talcot Lake in Cottonwood 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Talcot Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 873 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Talcot LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Talcot Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Talcot Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Talcot Lake (completed 1941), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the Des Moines River; gravity-type dam, 11 ft tall and 538 ft long.
- Surface area
- 873 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,934 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,379 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 518 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR-Fisheries and Wildlife
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00161 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Talcot 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 MN17-0060-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Talcot Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Dundee WwtpBelfast Township · 1.4 mi away · NPDES MN0070271
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.
Graded lakes near Talcot Lake
Talcot Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cottonwood County
Frequently asked questions about Talcot Lake
What is the water quality grade for Talcot Lake?
- Talcot Lake in Cottonwood County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 0.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 367 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 193 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 873.05 acres.
Is Talcot Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Talcot Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 193 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Talcot Lake?
- Talcot Lake has a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 873.05 acres.
What fish are in Talcot Lake?
- Fish species found in Talcot Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, quillback, river redhorse, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Talcot Lake is located in Cottonwood County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Talcot Lake?
- Talcot Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Talcot Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Talcot Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cottonwood County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Talcot Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
3 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
MNPCA3 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory