Independence Lake vs Minnetonka Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Minnetonka Lake has a higher water quality grade (B, Good) than Independence Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
D
Independence Lake
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft.
B
Minnetonka Lake
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Independence Lake | Minnetonka Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | D (Poor) | B (Good) |
| Water Clarity | 4.9 ft | 9.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 66.3 µg/L | 27 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 58 ft | 113 ft |
| Surface Area | 832.02 acres | 14.2K 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 B versus Independence Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 9.5 ft vs 4.9 ft. For fishing diversity, Minnetonka Lake also leads with 18 species.