| Heron Lake | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:USA_Minnesota_relief_location_map.svg)  Heron Lake | |
| Location | Jackson County, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 43°46′27″N 95°16′9″W / 43.77417°N 95.26917°W |
| Type | lake |
| Etymology | Named after Black-Crowned Night Heron |
| Primary inflows | Jack Creek, Okabena Creek |
| Primary outflows | Heron Lake Outlet |
| Catchment area | 444 square miles (1,150 km2) |
| Max. length | 11.5 miles (18.5 km) |
| Max. width | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) |
| Surface area | 7,997 acres (3,236 ha) |
| Average depth | 2.9 feet (0.88 m) |
| Max. depth | 6.5 feet (2.0 m) |
| Shore length1 | 66 miles (106 km) |
| References | https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/fish_wildlife/habitat/aquatic/shallowlakes/heronlake-mp.pdf |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Heron Lake is a lake in Jackson County, in the U.S. state of Minnesota.[1] [2]
Heron Lake is the English translation of the native Dakota language name, Okabena, meaning place where the heron nest.[3]
The lake is divided into four sub-basins named: Duck Lake, North Marsh, North Heron, and South Heron. A channel named Division Creek connects South Heron to North Heron. Each sub-basin has unique characteristics and differing substrates.
The outlet for the Heron Lake basin is currently controlled by the State Dam that is managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR). However, the downstream channel size controls outflow during high water events.[4]
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Heron Lake (Jackson County, Minnesota)
- ^ "Heron Lake Founded in 1871 – Heron Lake, MN". Retrieved 2023-06-22.
- ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 261.
- ^ MNDNR (December 2020). "Heron Lake Management Plan" (PDF). Retrieved June 22, 2023.