Golden Lake
Golden Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 58.09 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 58 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 30
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Golden Lake →
Next lake in Anoka County
Golden Lake is a 58-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, Golden Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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)
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 57 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Golden Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Golden 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Golden Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Golden 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
Golden Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 66°F) and coldest in Mar (about 42°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 408 field readings (2019–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Golden Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 58 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 88% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Golden Lake ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Golden Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-05-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 61.73 | 0.35 lb |
| Bluegill | 56.65 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.05 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.29 | 0.15 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 3.90 | 2.48 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.63 | 2.41 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
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2018-05-28 survey
Golden Lake is a small (57 acre) class 38 lake located at the lower end of a sub-watershed of the Rice Creek Watershed in the City of Circle Pines. Maximum depth is 25 feet. A portion of the lakeshore is included in a City of Circle Pines park that contains a boat access and shore facilities for a cascade type winter…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Golden Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GoldenFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GoldenFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GoldenPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.326 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (4 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2025-03-24 (2025) | 2023-04-13 (2023) |
| Ice-In | 2024-01-11 (2024) | 2024-01-11 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-24
EPA Impairment Status
Golden 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 MN02-0045-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Golden Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Aveda CorpBlaine · 1.7 mi away · NPDES MN0066524
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 #17 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Golden Lake holds Grade D. 2 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 Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about Golden Lake
What is the water quality grade for Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 58.09 acres.
Is Golden 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. Golden Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, from 408 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 58.09 acres.
What fish are in Golden Lake?
- Fish species found in Golden Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker. Golden Lake is located in Anoka County, Minnesota.
When does Golden Lake thaw?
- Golden Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 30.
Are there boat ramps on Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Golden Lake Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Golden Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
204 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
MNPCA204 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 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