Cedar Lake
Cedar Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 84.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 163.79 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 57°F
- Max depth
- 51 ft
- Area
- 164 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 9
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Cedar Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Cedar Lake is a 164-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 51 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 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Cedar Lake ranks #30 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Cedar Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 6 samples across 6 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Minnesota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 84.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 84.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Cedar Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cedar 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Cedar Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Cedar Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Cedar Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 56°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 57°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 1,871 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cedar Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 51 ft |
| Surface Area | 164 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cedar 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.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 51.41 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.61 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 3.41 | 0.34 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.81 | 3.53 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.11 | 0.13 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.05 | 0.1 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 Crappie
Black Bullhead
Northern Pike
From the 2024-07-08 survey
Cedar is a 164-acre lake located in Minneapolis. It is the most upstream of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes; downstream and connected are Lake of the Isles and Bde Maka Ska. A city park, maintained by the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, surrounds the majority of the lake. This public land provides ample…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Cedar Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CedarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CedarFish 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 | ↑ Improving | +0.073 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.6 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.18 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (15 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-06 (2024) | 2013-04-28 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2022-12-05 (2022) | 2024-01-16 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-06
EPA Impairment Status
Cedar Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0039-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #30 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Cedar Lake 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 Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Cedar Lake
What is the water quality grade for Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 84.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 51 ft. Surface area: 163.79 acres.
Is Cedar Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Cedar Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 6 samples across 6 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Cedar Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Minnesota's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in August, from 1,871 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake has a maximum depth of 51 feet. The lake covers 163.79 acres.
What fish are in Cedar Lake?
- Fish species found in Cedar Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Cedar Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Cedar Lake thaw?
- Cedar Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 9.
Explore Cedar Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
1,117 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1,117 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity, Probe 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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate