Coon Lake
Coon Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 1481.24 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 84°F
- Max depth
- 27 ft
- Area
- 1,481 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
- Open water
- 235 days
Next lake in Anoka County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Coon Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 25 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Coon Lake is a 1,481-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 27 feet (10-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, Coon Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Coon Lake water quality
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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 5.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Coon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Coon Lake in Anoka 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
Coon Lake typically sits around 84°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 81°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in May (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 65 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Coon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Average Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,481 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 16.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 74% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Coon LakePublic
- County Road 17Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Coon 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
17 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-16 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 48.23 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 26.25 | 0.51 lb |
| Black Crappie | 15.69 | 0.16 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 7.82 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.83 | 2.34 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 6.07 | 0.58 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
Pumpkinseed
From the 2025-06-16 survey
Coon Lake is a 1,250 acre lake located in northern Anoka County and assigned to lake class 35. There are two major basins with the eastern one being the deeper but smaller of the two. This lake was historically susceptible to winterkills but there are currently two aeration systems in place which appear to be…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Coon Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CoonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CoonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CoonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.071 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (32 observations).
Estimated open water season: 235 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-15 (2016) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-15 (2002) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-22
EPA Impairment Status
Coon 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 MN02-0042-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Coon Lake 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 Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about Coon Lake
What is the water quality grade for Coon Lake?
- Coon Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 1481.24 acres.
Is Coon Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Coon Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Coon Lake?
- Coon Lake typically sits around 84°F at the surface in August, from 65 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Coon Lake?
- Coon Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet and an average depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 1481.24 acres.
What fish are in Coon Lake?
- Fish species found in Coon Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Coon Lake is located in Anoka County, Minnesota.
When does Coon Lake thaw?
- Coon Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 235 days.
Are there boat ramps on Coon Lake?
- Coon Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Coon Lake, County Road 17. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Coon Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Anoka County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
278 measurements from 6 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA278 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (6)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate