Independence Lake vs Sarah Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Independence Lake has a higher water quality grade (D, Poor) than Sarah Lake (F, Very Poor). Both are in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Both Independence Lake and Sarah Lake sit in Minnesota. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any grade differences here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies grading them. These two are within a letter of each other on the rubric — Independence Lake (D) versus Sarah Lake (F). The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
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.
Sarah Lake
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Independence Lake | Sarah Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | D (Poor) | F (Very Poor) |
| Water Clarity | 4.8 ft | 3.1 ft |
| Phosphorus | 68.8 µg/L | 106.1 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.6 µg/L | 34.3 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 58 ft | 59 ft |
| Surface Area | 832 acres | 557 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 17 | 13 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Independence Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade D versus Sarah Lake's Grade F. Water clarity: 4.8 ft vs 3.1 ft. For fishing diversity, Independence Lake also leads with 17 species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.