Earley Lake
Earley Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- ~28 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Dakota County
Earley Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 28 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Earley Lake ranks #25 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-14. 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 5.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 36.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 36.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Earley Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Earley Lake in Dakota 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
Earley Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in Apr (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 36 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Earley Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~28 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~11 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Earley Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Earley 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.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Earley Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Ames ConstructionBurnsville · 0.2 mi away · NPDES MN0070408
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 #25 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Earley Lake
What is the water quality grade for Earley Lake?
- Earley Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.5 µg/L.
Is Earley Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Earley Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 13.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Earley Lake?
- Earley Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 36 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Earley Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Earley Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 28 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Earley Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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State Parks Near Earley Lake
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Where this data comes from
55 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA55 samples · 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder