Bryant Lake
Bryant Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 179.94 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 60°F
- Max depth
- 45 ft
- Area
- 180 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Hennepin County
Bryant Lake is a 180-acre mesotrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 45 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Bryant Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-08. 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 9.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 37.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 37.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bryant Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bryant 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.
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Water Temperature
Bryant Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 59°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 60°F) and coldest in Jan (about 37°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,639 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bryant Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 45 ft |
| Surface Area | 180 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bryant LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bryant 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-21 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 46.96 | 0.12 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 11.08 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.17 | 1.02 lb |
| Black Crappie | 8.84 | 0.17 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 8.41 | 0.39 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.20 | 0.11 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
Black Crappie
Black Bullhead
From the 2023-08-21 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Bryant Lake was conducted on August 21-22, 2023, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bryant Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BryantFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BryantFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BryantPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.067 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.78 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.02 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Bryant Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0067-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Bryant Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bryant Lake?
- Bryant Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 179.94 acres.
Is Bryant Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Bryant 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 Bryant Lake?
- Bryant Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August, from 1,639 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bryant Lake?
- Bryant Lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake covers 179.94 acres.
What fish are in Bryant Lake?
- Fish species found in Bryant Lake include black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, tiger muskellunge, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Bryant Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Bryant Lake?
- Bryant Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bryant Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bryant Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
302 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA302 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 4500 N C ~ Persufate Method for Total Nitrogen
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory