Anderson Lake
Anderson Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 82.04 acres.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 9 ft
- Area
- 82 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Hennepin County
Why Anderson Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Anderson Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Anderson Lake is a 82-acre lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and green sunfish. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Anderson Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Anderson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Anderson Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Anderson Lake
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Water Temperature
Anderson Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Sep (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 34 field readings (2010–2011) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Anderson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 82 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Anderson Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1993-06-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 216.89 | 0.23 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 6.17 | 0.07 lb |
| Black Crappie | 0.44 | 0.4 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Black Bullhead
Green Sunfish
Black Crappie
From the 1993-06-14 survey
Only three species were sampled while gillnetting and trapnetting Anderson # 3. Black bullheads, by far, were the most abundant species captured. Their population exceeded the average for lakes of the same class. Only four black crappies were sampled. The length of these fish was between 7 and 9.5 inches. Green…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Anderson Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Southeast AndersonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Southeast AndersonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.491 m/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Anderson Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0047-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.3 km)
Graded lakes near Anderson Lake
Anderson Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Anderson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Anderson Lake?
- Anderson Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 82.04 acres.
Is Anderson Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Anderson Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Anderson Lake?
- Anderson Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 34 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2011). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Anderson Lake?
- Anderson Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 82.04 acres.
What fish are in Anderson Lake?
- Fish species found in Anderson Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, green sunfish. Anderson Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA8 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder