Champlin Mill Pond
Hennepin County, MinnesotaEutrophic
Champlin Mill Pond pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. A maximum depth of just 11 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. At 37 acres, Champlin Mill Pond sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Champlin Mill Pond sits at rank 58 of 95 in Hennepin County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Champlin Mill Pond — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Champlin Mill Pond, one of 14 fish species on record for the lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. 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 2021-10-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 184.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 184.6 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11 ft |
| Average Depth | 4 ft |
| Surface Area | 37.22 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 98% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Champlin Mill Pond (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Champlin Mill Pond? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Champlin Mill Pond fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #58 of 95 lakes in Hennepin County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Champlin Mill Pond holds Grade D. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BRound LakeAnoka County · mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BCrooked LakeAnoka County · mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BUnnamed LakeHennepin County · mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CGrass LakeAnoka County · mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Champlin Mill Pond
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 66.90 | 0.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 7.67 | 1.58 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.97 | 0.13 lb |
| Bluegill | 6.19 | 0.16 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.81 | 1.76 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 3.88 | 0.42 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 Bullhead
Northern Pike
Pumpkinseed
Bluegill
From the 2025-07-07 survey
Champlin Mill Pond is a 34-acre impoundment of Elm Creek adjacent to and that flows into the Mississippi River. The lake is on the site of a historic mill. The old dam was replaced, and Lower Mill Pond was dewatered and dredged to increase the maximum depth to 15 feet in the fall of 2017. Additionally, the land…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Champlin Mill Pond. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Champlin Mill PondFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Champlin Mill PondFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Champlin Mill Pond is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Elm Creek (completed 2017), built primarily for recreation on the Elm Creek; gravity-type dam, 22 ft tall and 52 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 650 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 104 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- City of Champlin
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00520 · Operator website
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2021-10-13
Monitoring stations: 1