Battle Creek Lake
Battle Creek Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 7.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15.3 ft. Surface area: 105.74 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 15.3 ft
- Area
- 106 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Battle Creek Lake →
Next lake in Washington County
Battle Creek Lake is a 106-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washington County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 15 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 74 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Battle Creek Lake ranks #51 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Battle Creek Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 52 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Battle Creek Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Battle Creek Lake in Washington 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Battle Creek Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Battle Creek Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Battle Creek Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in Jan (about 34°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 547 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Battle Creek Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 106 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 97% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Battle Creek LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Battle Creek Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-04 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 53.71 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.74 | 0.13 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.65 | 1.75 lb |
| Bluegill | 6.14 | 0.17 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 6.04 | 0.18 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.96 | 0.1 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
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Bluegill
From the 2024-06-04 survey
Battle Creek (Mud) Lake is a 103-acre, class 43 FiN lake located at the western edge of Woodbury just south of Interstate 94. The sport fish community consists of Bluegill, Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed Sunfish. The City of Woodbury operates a winter aeration system, a park (Menomini) that provides a…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Battle Creek Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Battle CreekFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Battle CreekFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Battle CreekPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.041 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.75 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.46 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Battle Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Battle Creek (completed 1982), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Battle Creek; earth-type dam, 30 ft tall and 1,530 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2 ac
- Normal storage
- 100 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 340 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- WD of Ramsey- Washington Metro
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN01014 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Battle Creek 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 MN82-0091-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #51 of 75 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Battle Creek Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Battle Creek Lake
What is the water quality grade for Battle Creek Lake?
- Battle Creek Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 7.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15.3 ft. Surface area: 105.74 acres.
Is Battle Creek Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Battle Creek Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Battle Creek Lake?
- Battle Creek Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 547 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Battle Creek Lake?
- Battle Creek Lake has a maximum depth of 15.3 feet. The lake covers 105.74 acres.
What fish are in Battle Creek Lake?
- Fish species found in Battle Creek Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Battle Creek Lake is located in Washington County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Battle Creek Lake?
- Battle Creek Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Battle Creek Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Battle Creek Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Washington County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Battle Creek Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
440 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
MNPCA440 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory