Volney Lake
Volney Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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.
- Clarity
- 5.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 67 ft
- Area
- 269 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 3
- Open water
- 248 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Volney Lake →
Next lake in Le Sueur County
Volney Lake is a 269-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 67 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 2 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 45 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 25.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 45 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 25.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Volney Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Volney 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 →
Water Temperature
Volney Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 67 ft |
| Surface Area | 269 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 48% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Volney LakePublic
- Greenleaf LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-08 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 74.48 | 0.44 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 27.56 | 0.42 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.98 | 0.25 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 19.25 | 1.94 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 18.20 | 0.23 lb |
| Bluegill | 8.91 | 0.34 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.
Black Bullhead
Freshwater Drum
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-06-08 survey
Volney Lake 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. Roughly 46% of the lake is less than 15 feet deep. A DNR-owned public access is located on the southeast side of 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
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.111 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.45 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.67 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (59 observations).
Estimated open water season: 248 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-07 (2024) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2000-11-15 (2000) | 2015-12-28 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-07
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN40-0033-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 13 lakes in Le Sueur County
Nearby Lakes in Le Sueur County
Frequently asked questions about Volney Lake
What is the water quality grade for Volney Lake?
- Volney Lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Volney Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 25.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Volney Lake?
- Volney Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, 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.
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 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Volney Lake, Greenleaf Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Volney 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 Le Sueur County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Volney Lake
Other Grade D 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)
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