Victoria Lake
Victoria Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 416.81 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 60 ft
- Area
- 417 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
- Open water
- 237 days
Next lake in Douglas County
Victoria Lake is a 417-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 60 feet (32-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 19 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Victoria Lake ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Victoria Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Victoria Lake in Douglas 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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Water Temperature
Victoria Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 81 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Victoria Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 60 ft |
| Average Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 417 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 31% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake VictoriaPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Victoria Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BKS | 35.73 | — |
| Bluegill | 25.86 | 0.2 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 24.24 | 0.8 lb |
| SUN | 21.79 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 13.46 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 9.85 | 0.16 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-06-10 survey
Lake Victoria is a 419 acre basin located on the eastern city limits of Alexandria. Connections exist to Geneva and Jessie lakes, but shallow water may prohibit larger boats from navigating through these channels. A public access is located on the south shore off of County Road 23. A handicapped-accessible public…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Victoria Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — VictoriaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — VictoriaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — VictoriaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.711 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.36 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.35 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (22 observations).
Estimated open water season: 237 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-16 (2024) | 2013-05-10 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2006-12-01 (2006) | 2016-12-10 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-16
EPA Impairment Status
Victoria Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN21-0054-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 37 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Victoria Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Victoria Lake
What is the water quality grade for Victoria Lake?
- Victoria Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 416.81 acres.
Is Victoria Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Victoria Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Victoria Lake?
- Victoria Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 81 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Victoria Lake?
- Victoria Lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet and an average depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 416.81 acres.
What fish are in Victoria Lake?
- Fish species found in Victoria Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Victoria Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
When does Victoria Lake thaw?
- Victoria Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13. Ice typically forms around Dec 6. The open water season is approximately 237 days.
Are there boat ramps on Victoria Lake?
- Victoria Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Victoria. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Victoria Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Minnesota Lake Rankings
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Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
131 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA131 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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