Independence Lake vs Minnetonka Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Minnetonka Lake has a higher water quality grade (C, Fair) than Independence Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Independence 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. The grades are close: Independence Lake (D) and Minnetonka Lake (C) are within one letter of each other on the LakeGrade rubric. The per-parameter sub-grades below will show where the small differences actually live.
With grades 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.
Independence Lake
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft.
Minnetonka Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Independence Lake | Minnetonka Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | D (Poor) | C (Fair) |
| Water Clarity | 4.8 ft | 10 ft |
| Phosphorus | 68.8 µg/L | 28 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.6 µg/L | 10.1 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 58 ft | 113 ft |
| Surface Area | 832 acres | 14,206 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 17 | 18 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Minnetonka Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade C versus Independence Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 10 ft vs 4.8 ft. For fishing diversity, Minnetonka Lake also leads with 18 species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.