U.S. Lock & Dam #3 Lake
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Depth scale
Survey readout
U.S. Lock & Dam #3 Lake is mapped to a depth of 10 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 1,241 acres in Goodhue County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1974.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 10 ft
- Survey year
- 1974
- Surface area
- 1,241 acres
- Shoreline
- 14.16 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 15% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Mississippi River, North Lake Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site
Additional depth details3 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–10 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 10 ft
Provenance
Sources: MN DNR Lake Bathymetric Contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
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Map details & sources4 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 44.66288, -92.68539
- MN DNR lake ID
- 25001700
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25U.S. Lock & Dam #3 Lake has a heavily wooded and largely undeveloped setting, notable open-water exposure, nearby higher-volume roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Excellent | 31.8 of 35 | 83% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (0% forest, 80% wetland; 1% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Mixed | 3.5 of 29 | mean fetch 3,385 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long fetch in some directions |
| Motor & speed rules | Not modeled | — | Minnesota’s lake-by-lake motor, speed and no-wake rules are mostly county and city ordinances, not map data, so they are not part of the Minnesota index. Check local signage and ordinances before going out. |
| Public access | Good | 15.0 of 18 | 1 DNR public access site · boat ramp |
| Road isolation | Mixed | 6.0 of 18 | nearby higher-volume roads · 2 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 6,158 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Moderate — approximately 15% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- High — 0% forest and 80% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys11 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Sauger
White Bass
Hybrid SunfishAbout these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2015Gamefish Largemouth Bass 30 · Walleye 8 · Sauger 5 · Smallmouth Bass 5
Panfish Black Crappie 136 · Bluegill 68 · Yellow Perch 19
All survey species11 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Forage & nongame
Infested waters listing
2 confirmed, 4 via connectionMussels & snails
Zebra MusselConfirmed in this water in 1992 (listed 1995).
Plants & algae
- Eurasian WatermilfoilListed in 1995 because this water is connected to an infested water (confirmed in Mississippi in 1990). The species has not necessarily been found in this lake.
Flowering RushConfirmed in this water in 2021 (listed 2021).
Fish
- Bighead CarpListed in 2012 because this water is connected to other Mississippi River pools. The species has not necessarily been found in this lake.
- Grass CarpListed in 2015 because this water is connected to other Mississippi River pools. The species has not necessarily been found in this lake.
- Silver CarpListed in 2012 because this water is connected to other Mississippi River pools. The species has not necessarily been found in this lake.
How to identify invasive species in Minnesota lakes →
What does the infested waters list mean?
The Minnesota DNR lists a lake, river, pond or wetland as infested when it contains an aquatic invasive species that could spread to other waters, or when it is connected to a water where one is present. Activities such as bait harvest and water use are managed differently on infested waters. Check the current list before moving water, bait or equipment.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. List of Infested Waters, September 9, 2026. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/infested.html
U.S. Lock & Dam #3 Lake — common questions
How deep is U.S. Lock & Dam #3 Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of U.S. Lock & Dam #3 Lake is 10 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is U.S. Lock & Dam #3 Lake?
U.S. Lock & Dam #3 Lake covers about 1,241 acres in Goodhue County, Minnesota.
What fish are in U.S. Lock & Dam #3 Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, black crappie, bluegill. The page lists all 11 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to U.S. Lock & Dam #3 Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists a public access site on U.S. Lock & Dam #3 Lake: a boat ramp. It is administered by the DNR Division of Parks and Trails. DNR directions: "Take County 18 Blvd east out of Etter for 1.4 miles to 190th St Way. Follow 190th St Way for 0.3 miles east to the access."
