Bur Oaks Pond
Bur Oaks Pond in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 9.66 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 9 ft
- Area
- 10 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Bur Oaks Pond →
Next lake in Dakota County
Bur Oaks Pond is a 10-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving 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 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Bur Oaks Pond ranks #30 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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 4.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 70 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Bur Oaks Pond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bur Oaks Pond 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Bur Oaks Pond are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Bur Oaks Pond
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Bur Oaks Pond typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°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 75 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bur Oaks Pond water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 0.5 mi |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bur Oaks Pond
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2015-07-22 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 33.88 | 0.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 23.29 | 0.01 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 12.75 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 7.38 | 0.15 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 3.63 | 0.18 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.13 | 0.23 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.
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed
Bluegill
From the 2015-07-22 survey
Bur Oaks Lake is a shallow 16 acre lake located in the City of Eagan, Dakota County. The lake is separated into two basins connected by a narrow channel. The northern basin is the deeper and larger of the two (10 acres and 7 feet deep). The land surrounding the lake is managed by the City of Eagan as Bur Oaks Park and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bur Oaks Pond. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Bur Oaks PondFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Bur Oaks PondFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.023 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.2 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.52 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Bur Oaks Pond 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 MN19-0136-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.97 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #30 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bur Oaks Pond 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 Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Bur Oaks Pond
What is the water quality grade for Bur Oaks Pond?
- Bur Oaks Pond in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 9.66 acres.
Is Bur Oaks Pond safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Bur Oaks Pond has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bur Oaks Pond?
- Bur Oaks Pond typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 75 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bur Oaks Pond?
- Bur Oaks Pond has a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 9.66 acres.
What fish are in Bur Oaks Pond?
- Fish species found in Bur Oaks Pond include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed. Bur Oaks Pond is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
Explore Bur Oaks Pond across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
150 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA150 samples · 2021–2025
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 (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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder