Anderson Lake

Anderson Lake earns a D — measurements through 2020 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer.

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. A maximum depth of just 9 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. Anderson Lake is small — 82 acres alongside 2.2 miles of shoreline — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Among the 95 graded lakes in Hennepin County, Anderson Lake sits at rank 44, above the county median.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Anderson Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. 3 fish species are on record, with panfish making up the recreational core. 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.