Anderson Lake

Anderson Lake earns a D — measurements through 2020 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. At only 9 ft deep, Anderson Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. The lake is compact at 82 acres, with 2.2 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Anderson Lake ranks 47 of 95 in Hennepin County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Anderson Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery is panfish-dominated — bluegill, crappie, and sunfish among the 3 species documented for the lake. No formal public access is documented at Anderson Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.