Cedar Lake
Scott County, MinnesotaLimited DataEutrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric Cedar Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 61 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. Cedar Lake is a shallow lake at 13 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. At 793 acres, Cedar Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 7.1 miles of shoreline. Cedar Lake ranks 13 of 17 in Scott County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.
Cedar Lake is on the Minnesota infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. Walleye are documented at Cedar Lake, one of 10 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The lake has a partial ice record — 17 observed ice-outs, centered near Mar 31. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 793.43 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Cedar Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Cedar Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Cedar Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.239 m/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (27 observations).
Estimated open water season: 247 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-07 (2017) | 2018-04-29 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-14 (2014) | 2015-12-28 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-10
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 17 lakes in Scott County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Cedar Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Scott County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Cedar Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Cedar Lake With Nearby Lakes
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-02 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 105.13 | 0.2 lb |
| Bluegill | 67.69 | 0.23 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 24.43 | 0.23 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 15.69 | 0.81 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 13.20 | 0.82 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 7.78 | 0.16 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 Crappie
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
From the 2021-08-02 survey
Cedar Lake is 793-acres (793 littoral acres) with a maximum depth of 13 feet. Cedar is located northeast of New Prague in southern Scott County. Cedar is managed for Walleye, Bluegill, and Black Crappie, but also supports catchable populations of Largemouth Bass and Yellow Perch. Public water access is provided by DNR…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Cedar Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CedarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CedarFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CedarPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Cedar 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 MN70-0091-00 · 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: 2024-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1