Crystal Lake
Hennepin County, Minnesota79 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Crystal Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 39 ft max depth
- Public access
Crystal Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 17, 2022 caught 20.50 black crappie per gill net at Crystal Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–9 inches. DNR survey details →
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). 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Crystal Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing12 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 8
- Deep water39 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Crystal Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pFAS. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Crystal Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Crystal Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Crystal Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 34.9 µg/L. TSI 62.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 58µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 34.9µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 62 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Crystal Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Crystal Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (35°F) to its warmest (66°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 17, 2022 caught 20.50 black crappie per gill net at Crystal Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–9 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Crystal Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-17 (Standard Survey).
8 surveys on file · most recent 2022-08-17 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 67.88 | 3–6 in 2022-08-17 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Crappie | 55.27 | 5–9 in 2022-08-17 | 0.14 lb |
| Golden Shiner | 19.01 | 5–6 in 2022-08-17 | 0.09 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 13.76 | 4–6 in 2022-08-17 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.06 | 9 in 2022-08-17 | 0.35 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.30 | 23–32 in 2004-07-12 | 3.79 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Golden Shiner
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
Lake Details
Max depth
39 ft
Average depth
9.8 ft
Surface area
79 acres
Shoreline
1.6 mi
Littoral zone
67%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
843 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lakeview TerracePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Crystal Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Crystal Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crystal Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening5 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.5 µg/L/yr3 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.5 µg/L/yr3 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 8
Earliest Mar 29, 2007 · Latest Apr 10, 2022
Most recent ice-out
Apr 10
2022
6 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
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.
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Crystal Lake
Where is Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake is a lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Crystal Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pFAS. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Crystal Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 17, 2022 caught 20.50 black crappie per gill net at Crystal Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–9 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Crystal Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Crystal Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Hennepin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Crystal Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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