Zumbro Lake
Olmsted County, Minnesota715 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Zumbro Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- zebra mussel
- 43 ft max depth
- Public access
Zumbro Lake in Olmsted County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 69 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 714.54 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 14, 2021 caught 0.33 walleye per gill net at Zumbro Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–18 inches. DNR survey details →
Zumbro Lake is a 715-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Olmsted County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 43 feet. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 24 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Olmsted County, Zumbro Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-28. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Zumbro Lake covers about 710 acres in Olmsted County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is March 31, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Zumbro Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Zumbro Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing24 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 31
- Deep water43 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyAlgae risk
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Zumbro 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 Zumbro Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Zumbro 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 4 ft. Phosphorus 69 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 24.7 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 69µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 24.7µg/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. | 61 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Zumbro Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Zumbro Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in Sep (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (68°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 48 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Zumbro Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 14, 2021 caught 0.33 walleye per gill net at Zumbro Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–18 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Zumbro 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-14 (Targeted Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2021-06-14 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 26.09 | 7–19 in 2021-06-14 | 0.94 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 17.09 | 5–16 in 2021-06-14 | 0.85 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 7.79 | 17–28 in 2021-06-14 | 2.23 lb |
| Walleye | 4.66 | 15–18 in 2021-06-14 | 1.77 lb |
| Golden Redhorse | 4.60 | 9–22 in 2021-06-14 | 1.89 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.58 | 3–9 in 2021-06-14 | 0.19 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.
Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Channel Catfish
Walleye
From the 2021-06-14 survey
Lake Zumbro is a large reservoir on the Zumbro River. It is a popular recreation and fishing lake due to its proximity to Rochester, MN. The primary gamefish in the reservoir are Bluegill, Black Crappie, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike. A walleye stocking program was initiated in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Zumbro Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ZumbroFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ZumbroFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ZumbroPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
43 ft
Surface area
715 acres
Shoreline
22.8 mi
Littoral zone
37%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
844 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
902 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- PonderosaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Zumbro Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Zumbro Lake in Olmsted 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 Zumbro Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Zumbro Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 Zumbro 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
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.32 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.49 µg/L/yr3 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 31
Earliest Feb 22, 2017 · Latest Apr 25, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 13, 2014 · Latest Dec 28, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Mar 22
2026
51 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Zumbro Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Zumbro (completed 1919), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Zumbro River; gravity-type dam, 65 ft tall and 570 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 20,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 35,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 845 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- City of Rochester
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00358 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Zumbro Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Camp Victory WwtpZumbro Falls · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MN0067032Recent violation
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.
Nearby Lakes in Olmsted County
Frequently asked questions about Zumbro Lake
Where is Zumbro Lake?
- Zumbro Lake is a lake in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Zumbro Lake?
- Zumbro Lake in Olmsted County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 69 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 714.54 acres.
Is Zumbro Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Zumbro Lake?
- Zumbro Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 48 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Zumbro Lake?
- Zumbro Lake has a maximum depth of 43 feet. The lake covers 714.54 acres.
What fish are in Zumbro Lake?
- Fish species found in Zumbro Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, golden redhorse, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, quillback, redhorse, river carpsucker, river redhorse, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Zumbro Lake is located in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Zumbro Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 14, 2021 caught 0.33 walleye per gill net at Zumbro Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–18 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Zumbro 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 Zumbro Lake thaw?
- Zumbro Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 31. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 245 days.
Are there boat ramps on Zumbro Lake?
- Zumbro Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ponderosa. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Zumbro Lake?
- Zumbro 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 Zumbro 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 Olmsted County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Zumbro Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
230 measurements from 6 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
MNPCA230 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (6)
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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate