Bde Maka Ska Lake
Bde Maka Ska Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 88.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 82 ft. Surface area: 423.86 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 56°F
- Max depth
- 82 ft
- Area
- 424 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 9
- Open water
- 246 days
Next lake in Hennepin County
Bde Maka Ska Lake is a 424-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 82 feet (30-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Bde Maka Ska Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Bde Maka Ska Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 5 samples across 5 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Minnesota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 88.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 88.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Bde Maka Ska Lake
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Water Temperature
Bde Maka Ska Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 55°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 56°F) and coldest in Feb (about 35°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 3,194 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bde Maka Ska Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Bde Maka Ska Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (25,823 cells/mL) on June 20, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 82 ft |
| Average Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 424 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 29% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake Bde Maka SkaPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bde Maka Ska 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.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 65.89 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.14 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 16.05 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 11.57 | 0.11 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.81 | 0.97 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 4.78 | 0.06 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.
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-06-24 survey
Bde Maka Ska is a 419-acre (123 littoral acres) lake with a maximum depth of 82 feet. Bde Maka Ska is located in south Minneapolis in eastern Hennepin County. Bde Maka Ska is primarily managed for Walleye (fingerling stocked in odd-numbered years) and Muskellunge (fingerling stocked during even-numbered years) but…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bde Maka Ska Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Bde Maka SkaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Bde Maka SkaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Bde Maka SkaPublic 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 | -0.151 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.53 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.81 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (154 observations).
Estimated open water season: 246 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-07 (2017) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 1996-11-25 (1996) | 2015-12-31 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-04-01
EPA Impairment Status
Bde Maka Ska 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 MN27-0031-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Bde Maka Ska Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bde Maka Ska Lake?
- Bde Maka Ska Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 88.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 82 ft. Surface area: 423.86 acres.
Is Bde Maka Ska Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Bde Maka Ska Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 5 samples across 5 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Bde Maka Ska Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Minnesota's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bde Maka Ska Lake?
- Bde Maka Ska Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August, from 3,194 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bde Maka Ska Lake?
- Bde Maka Ska Lake has a maximum depth of 82 feet and an average depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 423.86 acres.
What fish are in Bde Maka Ska Lake?
- Fish species found in Bde Maka Ska Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Bde Maka Ska Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Bde Maka Ska Lake thaw?
- Bde Maka Ska Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 9. Ice typically forms around Dec 11. The open water season is approximately 246 days.
Does Bde Maka Ska Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Bde Maka Ska Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (25,823 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Bde Maka Ska Lake?
- Bde Maka Ska Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Bde Maka Ska. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bde Maka Ska Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
1,536 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1,536 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity, Probe Method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate