Bde Maka Ska
Hennepin County, Minnesota424 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA records this lake as “Bde Maka Ska Lake.”
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Bde Maka Ska. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 82 ft max depth
- Public access
Bde Maka Ska in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 24, 2024 caught 1.62 walleye per gill net at Bde Maka Ska. DNR survey details →
Bde Maka Ska is a 424-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 82 feet (30-foot average). 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 ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-20. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Bde Maka Ska covers about 420 acres in Hennepin County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 9, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Bde Maka Ska on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Bde Maka Ska is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water9.8 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing14 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 9
- Deep water82 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyBacteria tested: low
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no 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 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.
Whether Bde Maka Ska is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Bde Maka Ska
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Bde Maka Ska, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus 88.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.6 µg/L. TSI 53.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 9.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 88.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.6µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 53 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Bde Maka Ska
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Bde Maka Ska typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (35°F) to its warmest (56°F).
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 water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Bde Maka Ska — 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 ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 24, 2024 caught 1.62 walleye per gill net at Bde Maka Ska.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bde Maka Ska’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-24 (Standard Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2024-06-24 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 65.89 | 1–8 in 2024-06-24 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.14 | 4–11 in 2024-06-24 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 16.05 | ||
| Yellow Perch | 11.57 | 4–6 in 2024-06-24 | 0.11 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.81 | 7–9 in 2024-06-24 | 0.97 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 4.78 | 3–5 in 2024-06-24 | 0.06 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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. 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
Lake Details
Max depth
82 ft
Average depth
30 ft
Surface area
424 acres
Shoreline
3.1 mi
Littoral zone
29%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
7 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
837 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake Bde Maka SkaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bde Maka Ska
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bde Maka Ska in Hennepin 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Bde Maka Ska
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bde Maka Ska
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.53 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.81 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 9
Earliest Mar 7, 2017 · Latest May 1, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 11
Earliest Nov 25, 1996 · Latest Dec 31, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Apr 1
2026
154 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Bde Maka Ska is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0031-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Bde Maka Ska
Where is Bde Maka Ska?
- Bde Maka Ska is a lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bde Maka Ska?
- Bde Maka Ska in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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 safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Bde Maka Ska never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 5 samples across 5 seasons. That is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether Bde Maka Ska is safe to swim in today is a call for Minnesota's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bde Maka Ska?
- Bde Maka Ska typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October, 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?
- Bde Maka Ska 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?
- Fish species found in Bde Maka Ska 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 is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bde Maka Ska?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 24, 2024 caught 1.62 walleye per gill net at Bde Maka Ska. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bde Maka Ska’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Bde Maka Ska thaw?
- Bde Maka Ska 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 have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Bde Maka Ska (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?
- Bde Maka Ska 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.
Can I fish at Bde Maka Ska?
- Bde Maka Ska has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Bde Maka Ska across LakeQuality
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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