Champlin Mill Pond
Champlin Mill Pond in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 184.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 37.22 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 11 ft
- Area
- 37 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Hennepin County
Champlin Mill Pond is a 37-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 11 feet (4-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Champlin Mill Pond ranks #21 for water quality.
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
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 184.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 184.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Champlin Mill Pond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Champlin Mill Pond 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
Champlin Mill Pond typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Apr (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 112 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Champlin Mill Pond water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11 ft |
| Average Depth | 4 ft |
| Surface Area | 37 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 98% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Akin RiversidePublic
- Rum River South County ParkPublic
- Mississippi River Point ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Champlin Mill Pond
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —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
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Champlin Mill Pond holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Champlin Mill Pond
What is the water quality grade for Champlin Mill Pond?
- Champlin Mill Pond in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 184.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 37.22 acres.
Is Champlin Mill Pond safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Champlin Mill Pond has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Champlin Mill Pond?
- Champlin Mill Pond typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 112 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Champlin Mill Pond?
- Champlin Mill Pond has a maximum depth of 11 feet and an average depth of 4 feet. The lake covers 37.22 acres.
What fish are in Champlin Mill Pond?
- Fish species found in Champlin Mill Pond include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Champlin Mill Pond is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Champlin Mill Pond?
- Champlin Mill Pond has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Akin Riverside, Rum River South County Park, Mississippi River Point Park. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
45 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA45 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 4500 N C ~ Persufate Method for Total Nitrogen
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
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory