Windy Lake
Windy Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 456 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Max depth
- 39 ft
- Area
- 456 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lake County
Windy Lake is a 456-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 39 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, lake whitefish, and northern pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Windy Lake ranks #22 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Windy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Windy Lake in Lake 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
Windy Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 66°F) and coldest in Jun (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 96 field readings (2019–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Windy Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 39 ft |
| Surface Area | 456 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 44% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Windy LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Windy Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Windy Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0068-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #22 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Windy Lake
What is the water quality grade for Windy Lake?
- Windy Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 456 acres.
Is Windy Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Windy Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Windy Lake?
- Windy Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, from 96 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Windy Lake?
- Windy Lake has a maximum depth of 39 feet. The lake covers 456 acres.
What fish are in Windy Lake?
- Fish species found in Windy Lake include black crappie, lake whitefish, northern pike, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Windy Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Windy Lake?
- Windy Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Windy Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Windy Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
16 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
MNPCA16 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory