Bde Maka Ska Lake vs Minnetonka Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Minnetonka Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Bde Maka Ska Lake. Both are in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Bde Maka Ska Lake and Minnetonka Lake are both in Minnesota — a same-state head-to-head where the comparison comes down to lake-specific differences in depth, watershed, and monitoring history rather than the broader state-level water-quality regime. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Bde Maka Ska Lake versus Minnetonka Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.
Bde Maka Ska Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft.
Minnetonka Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Bde Maka Ska Lake | Minnetonka Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 9.8 ft | 10 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 88.5 µg/L | 28 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.6 µg/L Better | 10.1 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 82 ft | 113 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 424 acres | 14,206 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 14 | 18 Better |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | mesotrophic |
A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.
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Verdict
Bde Maka Ska Lake and Minnetonka Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Bde Maka Ska Lake: 9.8 ft, Minnetonka Lake: 10 ft) and what you want from the lake. Bde Maka Ska Lake has fewer fish species than Minnetonka Lake.
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Where to stay near Bde Maka Ska Lake and Minnetonka Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Bde Maka Ska Lake and Minnetonka Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Bde Maka Ska Lake and Minnetonka Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.