Bald Lake
Bald Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Dakota County
Bald Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including black bullhead, bluegill, and largemouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Bald Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 39 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 39 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Bald Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bald Lake in Dakota 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.
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Water Temperature
Bald Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 75 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bald Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bald Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bald Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fish Stocking History — BaldFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.053 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.69 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.25 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Bald 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 MN19-0136-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.62 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Bald Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bald Lake?
- Bald Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.5 µg/L.
Is Bald Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Bald Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bald Lake?
- Bald Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 75 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in Bald Lake?
- Fish species found in Bald Lake include black bullhead, bluegill, largemouth bass. Bald Lake is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
Explore Bald Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Dakota County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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State Parks Near Bald Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
137 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA137 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric 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