Temperance Lake
Temperance Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 165.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 88.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 166.05 acres.
- Clarity
- 0.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 82°F
- Max depth
- 5 ft
- Area
- 166 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Temperance Lake →
Next lake in Martin County
Temperance Lake is a 166-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Martin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 5 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and common carp. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Martin County, Temperance Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. 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 0.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 165.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 88.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 79.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 165.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 88.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 79 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Temperance Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Temperance Lake in Martin 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 Temperance Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Temperance Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Temperance Lake typically sits around 82°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 82°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Temperance Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 166 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Temperance LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Temperance Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Temperance 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 MN46-0103-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Temperance Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Sherburn WwtpSherburn · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MN0024872Recent violation
- Interstate Power Co - Fox Lake StationSherburn · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MN0000957
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 #12 of 12 lakes in Martin County
Nearby Lakes in Martin County
Frequently asked questions about Temperance Lake
What is the water quality grade for Temperance Lake?
- Temperance Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 165.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 88.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 166.05 acres.
Is Temperance 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. Temperance Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 88.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Temperance Lake?
- Temperance Lake typically sits around 82°F at the surface in August, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Temperance Lake?
- Temperance Lake has a maximum depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 166.05 acres.
What fish are in Temperance Lake?
- Fish species found in Temperance Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Temperance Lake is located in Martin County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Temperance Lake?
- Temperance Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Temperance Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Temperance Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
15 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
MNPCA15 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