Grass Lake
Hennepin County, MinnesotaLimited DataHypereutrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric Grass Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 76 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier.
A TSI above 70 puts Grass Lake in hypereutrophic territory: visible blooms are common, and clarity rarely climbs even in early summer. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Grass Lake ranks 87 of 95 in Hennepin County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.
Grass Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2022, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Grass Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Grass Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Ice-out has been recorded 6 times at Grass Lake, with a median around Mar 30. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-10-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 148 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 76.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 148 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 76 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +28 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-04 (2024) | 2023-04-11 (2023) |
| Ice-In | 2017-12-08 (2017) | 2024-01-03 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-04
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #87 of 95 lakes in Hennepin County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Grass Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Grass Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
EPA Impairment Status
Grass 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 MN27-0022-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.38 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2022-10-12
Monitoring stations: 1