Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 31.44 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 79°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 31 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Crystal Lake →
Next lake in Scott County
Crystal Lake is a 31-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Scott County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Scott County, Crystal Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-18. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 51 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 51 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Crystal Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crystal Lake in Scott 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Crystal Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 79°F) and coldest in Oct (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2022–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crystal Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 91% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crystal Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-08-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 27.72 | 0.21 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 16.48 | 0.19 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.95 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Crappie | 10.15 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.67 | 1.92 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 3.45 | 0.94 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
Brown Bullhead
Bluegill
Black Crappie
From the 2016-08-15 survey
Crystal Lake is a 32-acre Class 36 lake located in the City of Prior Lake. The area around Crystal Lake is currently being redeveloped, changing from a primarily agricultural area to a residential area with a city park. The City of Prior Lake operates an aerator throughout the winter months to reduce the potentials or…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Crystal Lake. 2 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
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.118 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +15.55 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +6.5 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Crystal 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 MN70-0072-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.54 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 21 lakes in Scott County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Crystal Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Scott County
Frequently asked questions about Crystal Lake
What is the water quality grade for Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 31.44 acres.
Is Crystal Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Crystal Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August, from 15 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 31.44 acres.
What fish are in Crystal Lake?
- Fish species found in Crystal Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed. Crystal Lake is located in Scott County, Minnesota.
Explore Crystal Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
39 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA39 samples · 2022–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder