Brownie Lake
Brownie Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 17.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 47 ft. Surface area: 10.25 acres.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 56°F
- Max depth
- 47 ft
- Area
- 10 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Brownie Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Brownie Lake is a 10-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 47 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Brownie Lake ranks #47 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 17.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 44 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 17.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Brownie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Brownie Lake 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Brownie Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Brownie Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Brownie Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 54°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 56°F) and coldest in Feb (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 312 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Brownie Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 47 ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 0.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 76% |
| Public Access | No |
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 Brownie 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
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2005-07-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 23.77 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 9.80 | 0.29 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.13 | 0.14 lb |
| GOS | 4.50 | 0.13 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.61 | 0.09 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 1.50 | 0.58 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 Bullhead
Black Crappie
GOS
From the 2005-07-11 survey
Brownie Lake is a 12-acre, class 30 lake, located near downtown Minneapolis. Brownie Lake, accessible via a channel from Cedar Lake, lies within a chain of lakes that includes Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun. The sportfish community consists of black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed sunfish. Other…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Brownie Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BrownieFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.06 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.36 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.8 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-04 (2024) | 2023-04-14 (2023) |
| Ice-In | 2022-11-21 (2022) | 2024-01-02 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-04
EPA Impairment Status
Brownie 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 MN27-0038-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #47 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Brownie Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Brownie Lake
What is the water quality grade for Brownie Lake?
- Brownie Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 17.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 47 ft. Surface area: 10.25 acres.
Is Brownie Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Brownie Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 17.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Brownie Lake?
- Brownie Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in August, from 312 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Brownie Lake?
- Brownie Lake has a maximum depth of 47 feet. The lake covers 10.25 acres.
What fish are in Brownie Lake?
- Fish species found in Brownie Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, pumpkinseed. Brownie Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Brownie Lake thaw?
- Brownie Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4.
Explore Brownie Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
285 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
MNPCA285 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
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate