Blackhawk Lake
Blackhawk Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 39.85 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 40 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Dakota County
Blackhawk Lake is a 40-acre mesotrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Blackhawk Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 28 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 28 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Blackhawk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Blackhawk 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
Blackhawk Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 83 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Blackhawk Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 118% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Blackhawk 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-05-21 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 31.52 | 0.09 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 20.76 | 0.47 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 7.57 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 6.56 | 0.56 lb |
| GOS | 3.57 | 0.12 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.11 | 0.15 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
Largemouth Bass
Hybrid Sunfish
Black Bullhead
From the 2025-05-21 survey
Blackhawk Lake is a 54-acre, class 42 lake located in the City of Eagan. The south shoreline is located within Blackhawk Lake Park, which is managed by the City of Eagan Parks and Recreation Department, and the north shoreline is developed with single-family homes. The City of Eagan maintains a carry-in boat access,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Blackhawk Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BlackhawkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BlackhawkFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BlackhawkPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.087 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.44 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.01 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Blackhawk 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 MN19-0059-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Blackhawk Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Met Council - Seneca WwtpEagan · 1.2 mi away · NPDES MN0030007MajorRecent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Blackhawk Lake
What is the water quality grade for Blackhawk Lake?
- Blackhawk Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 39.85 acres.
Is Blackhawk Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Blackhawk Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Blackhawk Lake?
- Blackhawk Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 83 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Blackhawk Lake?
- Blackhawk Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 39.85 acres.
What fish are in Blackhawk Lake?
- Fish species found in Blackhawk Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed. Blackhawk Lake is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
Explore Blackhawk Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
182 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA182 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 (2)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder