Volney Lake
Le Sueur County, Minnesota269 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Volney Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 67 ft max depth
- Public access
Volney Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 67 ft. Surface area: 268.86 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 9, 2025 caught 1.17 walleye per gill net at Volney Lake. DNR survey details →
Volney Lake is a 269-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 67 feet. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Le Sueur County, Volney Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-03. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Volney Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing12 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 3
- Deep water67 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Volney Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Volney 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 Volney Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Volney 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 5.5 ft. Phosphorus 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 25.4 µg/L. TSI 58.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 45µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 25.4µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 58 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Volney Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Volney Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Apr (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (50°F) to its warmest (73°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 119 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Volney Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Volney Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (222,844 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 9, 2025 caught 1.17 walleye per gill net at Volney Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Volney Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-09 (Standard Survey).
15 surveys on file · most recent 2025-06-09 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 74.48 | 7–11 in 2019-06-10 | 0.44 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 26.51 | 8–17 in 2025-06-09 | 0.46 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.50 | 3–11 in 2025-06-09 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 16.88 | 3–9 in 2025-06-09 | 0.22 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 16.57 | 7–16 in 2025-06-09 | 1.92 lb |
| Bluegill | 9.41 | 3–9 in 2025-06-09 | 0.33 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and 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.
Black Bullhead
Freshwater Drum
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-06-09 survey
Lake Volney is a 283-acre lake located approximately 3 miles southeast of the town of Le Center in Le Sueur County. It is one of the deepest lakes in the Waterville Area with a maximum depth of 67 feet. Lake Volney has better water clarity than most Waterville Area lakes. A DNR-owned public access is located on the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Volney Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — VolneyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — VolneyFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — VolneyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
67 ft
Surface area
269 acres
Shoreline
2.5 mi
Littoral zone
48%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
4 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,020 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Volney LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Volney Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Volney Lake in Le Sueur 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Volney Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Volney Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Volney 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.
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.45 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-2.67 µg/L/yr4 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 3
Earliest Mar 7, 2024 · Latest Apr 30, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 7
Earliest Nov 15, 2000 · Latest Dec 28, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Mar 7
2024
59 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Volney Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN40-0033-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Le Sueur County
Frequently asked questions about Volney Lake
Where is Volney Lake?
- Volney Lake is a lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Volney Lake?
- Volney Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 67 ft. Surface area: 268.86 acres.
Is Volney Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Volney Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Volney Lake?
- Volney Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in October, from 119 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Volney Lake?
- Volney Lake has a maximum depth of 67 feet. The lake covers 268.86 acres.
What fish are in Volney Lake?
- Fish species found in Volney Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, freshwater drum, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Volney Lake is located in Le Sueur County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Volney Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 9, 2025 caught 1.17 walleye per gill net at Volney Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Volney Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Volney Lake thaw?
- Volney Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 3. Ice typically forms around Dec 7. The open water season is approximately 248 days.
Does Volney Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Volney Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (222,844 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Volney Lake?
- Volney Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Volney Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Volney Lake?
- Volney Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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.
Explore Volney Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Le Sueur County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Volney Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
121 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
MNPCA121 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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