Bush Lake
Hennepin County, Minnesota171 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Bush Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 28 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Bush Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 170.97 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 17, 2024 caught 0.25 northern pike per trap net at Bush Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 23–24 inches. DNR survey details →
Bush Lake is a 171-acre mesotrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Bush Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Bush Lake covers about 170 acres in Hennepin County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 8, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Bush Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Bush Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing12 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 8
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Bush Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Bush Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Bush Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Bush Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.6 µg/L. TSI 41.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 13ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 13.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.6µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 41 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Bush Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Bush Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Apr (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (49°F) to its warmest (82°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 47 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bush Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 17, 2024 caught 0.25 northern pike per trap net at Bush Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 23–24 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bush Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-17 (Targeted Survey).
15 surveys on file · most recent 2024-06-17 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 123.86 | 4–7 in 2024-06-17 | 1.05 lb |
| Bluegill | 28.44 | 3–8 in 2024-06-17 | 0.07 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 10.56 | 3–6 in 2024-06-17 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 9.18 | 23–24 in 2024-06-17 | 1.8 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 8.91 | 2–6 in 2024-06-17 | 0.07 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 7.89 | 7–13 in 2024-06-17 | 0.6 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Hybrid Sunfish
Northern Pike
From the 2024-06-17 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Bush Lake was conducted on June 17th, 2024, 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 Bush Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BushFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BushPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
28 ft
Surface area
171 acres
Shoreline
3.6 mi
Littoral zone
64%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
827 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bush LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bush Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bush 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Bush Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Bush Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bush 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-2.88 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-8.17 µg/L/yr4 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 8
Earliest Mar 25, 2021 · Latest Apr 30, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 2
Earliest Nov 15, 2014 · Latest Jan 9, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Apr 13
2023
21 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Bush Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0047-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Bush Lake
Where is Bush Lake?
- Bush Lake is a lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bush Lake?
- Bush Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 170.97 acres.
Is Bush Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Bush Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bush Lake?
- Bush Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in October, from 47 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bush Lake?
- Bush Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 170.97 acres.
What fish are in Bush Lake?
- Fish species found in Bush Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Bush Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bush Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 17, 2024 caught 0.25 northern pike per trap net at Bush Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 23–24 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bush Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Bush Lake thaw?
- Bush Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 8. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 238 days.
Are there boat ramps on Bush Lake?
- Bush Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bush Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Bush Lake?
- Bush Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Bush Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Hennepin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Bush Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
59 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA59 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate