Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 34.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 79.12 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Max depth
- 39 ft
- Area
- 79 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 8
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Crystal Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Crystal Lake is a 79-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 39 feet (10-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Crystal Lake ranks #65 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 34.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 58 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 34.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Crystal Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crystal 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 Crystal Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Crystal 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
Crystal Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 66°F) and coldest in Feb (about 35°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 378 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crystal Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 39 ft |
| Average Depth | 9.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 79 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 67% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lakeview TerracePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crystal Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 67.88 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Crappie | 55.27 | 0.14 lb |
| GOS | 19.01 | 0.09 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 13.76 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.06 | 0.35 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.30 | 3.79 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
GOS
Yellow Perch
From the 2022-08-17 survey
Crystal Lake is a 78-acre lake located in Robbinsdale. City parks are situated to the north and south of the lake, and both provide shore fishing access. The park to the north includes a fishing pier (Installed in 2019), and the park to the south includes a boat access with trailer parking. Crystal Lake is primarily a…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Crystal Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CrystalFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CrystalFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CrystalPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.029 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-03-29 (2007) | 2022-04-10 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2006-12-01 (2006) | 2007-12-04 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-10
EPA Impairment Status
Crystal Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0034-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Crystal Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Xcel - Riverside Generating PlantMinneapolis · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MN0000892Major
- Crystal Lake Flocculation Treatment FacilityRobbinsdale · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MN0069957Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #65 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Crystal Lake holds Grade F. 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 Crystal Lake
What is the water quality grade for Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 34.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 79.12 acres.
Is Crystal Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Crystal Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 34.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, from 378 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake has a maximum depth of 39 feet and an average depth of 9.8 feet. The lake covers 79.12 acres.
What fish are in Crystal Lake?
- Fish species found in Crystal Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed, tiger muskellunge, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Crystal Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Crystal Lake thaw?
- Crystal Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 8.
Are there boat ramps on Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lakeview Terrace. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Crystal Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
127 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
MNPCA127 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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