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C

Boot Lake

Anoka County, MinnesotaEutrophic

The LakeGrade rubric puts Boot Lake at a C: clarity at 6.7 ft, 31 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 52 signal an intermediate trophic state. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.

At a TSI of 52, Boot Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake bottoms out at 19 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. Boot Lake is small — 91 acres alongside 2.6 miles of shoreline — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Boot Lake ranks 9 of 24 in Anoka County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Boot Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Boot Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Boot Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

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Swimming Safety

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. Trophic State Index: 52.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)6.7 ftC
Phosphorus31 µg/LC
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)52Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth19 ft
Surface Area91.39 acres
Shoreline Length2.6 mi
Public AccessNo

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.028 m/yr5
Phosphorus Declining+3.83 µg/L/yr2
See year-by-year chart →

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #9 of 24 lakes in Anoka County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Boot Lake holds Grade C. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Anoka County

DNR Fisheries Survey Summary

1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1959-06-30 (Standard Survey).

Top Species by Catch Rate

SpeciesAvg CPUEAvg Weight
Brown Bullhead80.750.36 lb
Yellow Perch8.850.21 lb
Bluegill8.350.19 lb
Black Crappie5.550.23 lb
Pumpkinseed4.550.22 lb
Black Bullhead2.550.26 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.

Source: MN DNR LakeFinder Fisheries Lake Survey

DNR Reports & Resources

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Boot Lake. 2 reports on file.

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

MercuryNutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

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)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder

Most recent sample: 2021-09-16

Monitoring stations: 1