Target Lake
Houston County, MinnesotaView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Target Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Public access
- Limited data
Target Lake in Houston County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.1 ft visibility.
Target Lake is a lake in Houston County, Minnesota. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-10-03. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Target 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 Target Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Target Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5.1 ft. TSI 54.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 54 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Target Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Target Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (66°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Target Lake water temperature breakdown →
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Stays near Target Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Target Lake in Houston 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.
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Fishing Target Lake
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Target Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 5 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- La Crosse CityLa Crosse · 1.4 mi away · NPDES WI0029581MajorRecent violation
- United States Geological SurveyLa Crosse · 1.5 mi away · NPDES WI0045756Recent violation
- Northern States Power French ILa Crosse · 2.9 mi away · NPDES WI0070785Recent violation
- Westfield WwtfWest La Crosse · 4 mi away · NPDES WI0022250Recent violation
- Hokah WwtpHokah · 4.3 mi away · NPDES MN0021458Recent violation
- LacrescentLacrescent · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MN0020621
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.
Nearby Lakes in Houston County
Frequently asked questions about Target Lake
Where is Target Lake?
- Target Lake is a lake in Houston County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Target Lake?
- Target Lake in Houston County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.1 ft visibility.
Is Target 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 Target Lake?
- Target Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Can I fish at Target Lake?
- Public access to Target Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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
5 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
MNPCA5 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)