Boot Lake
Boot Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 91.39 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 91 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Anoka County
Boot Lake is a 91-acre mesotrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, Boot Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Boot Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 6.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 31 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Boot Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Boot Lake in Anoka 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
Boot Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2019–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Boot Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 91 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.6 mi |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Boot Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1959-06-30 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Bullhead | 80.75 | 0.36 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.85 | 0.21 lb |
| Bluegill | 8.35 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.55 | 0.23 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.55 | 0.22 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 2.55 | 0.26 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1959-06-30 survey
This lake is entirely within the boundaries of a Scientific and Natural Area and as such: It is CLOSED to any fishing or boating activity. There is NO public access on the lake.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Boot Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BootFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Boot (1368)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.028 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.83 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +4.73 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Boot 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 MN02-0026-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.72 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Boot Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about Boot Lake
What is the water quality grade for Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 91.39 acres.
Is Boot Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Boot Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Boot Lake?
- Boot Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 91.39 acres.
Explore Boot Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
39 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA39 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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