Carver Lake
Washington County, MinnesotaEutrophic
Carver Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. Carver Lake reaches 36 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 50 acres, Carver Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Carver Lake sits at rank 16 of 31 in Washington County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Carver Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 13 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. No formal public access is documented at Carver Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The lake has a partial ice record — 13 observed ice-outs, centered near Mar 31. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 55 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 55 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Surface Area | 50.06 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 50% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Carver Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Carver Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Carver Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.613 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +8.1 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (14 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-04 (2024) | 2018-04-29 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 1995-11-12 (1995) | 1995-11-12 (1995) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-04-01
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #16 of 31 lakes in Washington County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Carver Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Washington County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Carver Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 32.00 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 27.60 | 0.36 lb |
| Black Crappie | 10.60 | 0.15 lb |
| GOS | 6.63 | 0.08 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.50 | 2.88 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.88 | 0.52 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 2024-08-05 survey
Carver Lake is a 50-acre (24 littoral acre), class 30 lake in Woodbury that has fair water clarity and a typical fish community for a lake in the metro area. The lake is currently managed by the Fishing in the Neighborhood (FiN) program. A large city park on the lake offers many amenities including a swimming beach,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Carver Lake. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CarverFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CarverFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Carver 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 MN82-0166-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-26
Monitoring stations: 1