Arrowhead Lake
Hennepin County, MinnesotaEutrophic
Arrowhead Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.
At a TSI of 68, Arrowhead Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. At only 7 ft deep, Arrowhead Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. At 22 acres, Arrowhead Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Arrowhead Lake sits at rank 50 of 95 in Hennepin County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Arrowhead 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 Arrowhead 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Track Arrowhead Lake
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 83 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 83 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 22.03 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Arrowhead Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Arrowhead Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Arrowhead Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #50 of 95 lakes in Hennepin County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Arrowhead Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CBryant LakeHennepin County · mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CIdlewild LakeHennepin County · mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Arrowhead Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1995-08-02 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 144.43 | 0.09 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 84.29 | 0.19 lb |
| Bluegill | 0.57 | 0.04 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
Bluegill
From the 1995-08-02 survey
Arrowhead Lake is a small, shallow winterkill lake. The 1995 lake survey found black bullheads and green sunfish dominating the population. Each species was sampled in numbers well above average for similar lakes. The average size of fish, for both species, was slightly below average. Only 4 bluegills were sampled…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Arrowhead Lake. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ArrowheadFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ArrowheadFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Arrowhead Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0067-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.86 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2020-09-09
Monitoring stations: 1