Bush Lake
Bush Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in August
- 81°F
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 171 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 8
- Open water
- 238 days
Next lake in Hennepin County
Bush Lake is a 171-acre mesotrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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.
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Water Temperature
Bush Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 171 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 64% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bush LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-17 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 123.86 | 1.05 lb |
| Bluegill | 28.44 | 0.07 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 10.56 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 9.18 | 1.8 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 8.91 | 0.07 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 7.89 | 0.6 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.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.486 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.88 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -8.17 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (21 observations).
Estimated open water season: 238 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-03-25 (2021) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-15 (2014) | 2024-01-09 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-13
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0047-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Bush Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bush Lake?
- Bush Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Bush Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bush Lake?
- Bush Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Bush Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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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)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate