Greenleaf Lake
Greenleaf Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 237.77 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 238 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Greenleaf Lake →
Next lake in Meeker County
Greenleaf Lake is a 238-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet (6-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Meeker County, Greenleaf Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-18. 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)
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 77.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 25.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 77.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 25.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Greenleaf Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Greenleaf Lake in Meeker 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 Greenleaf Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Greenleaf Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Greenleaf Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 38 field readings (2017–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Greenleaf Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Average Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 238 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 76% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Greenleaf LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Greenleaf Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 79.64 | 0.53 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 19.15 | 1.48 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 15.04 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.89 | 0.23 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.87 | 0.19 lb |
| White Crappie | 9.72 | 0.24 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
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
From the 2022-07-18 survey
Greenleaf is a small lake (238 acres) located south of the City of Litchfield in Meeker County. A state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is present on the south shore. Greenleaf has three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lakeshore is mostly undeveloped, which creates a scenic…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Greenleaf Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GreenleafFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GreenleafFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GreenleafPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Greenleaf 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 MN47-0062-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 19 lakes in Meeker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Greenleaf Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Greenleaf Lake
What is the water quality grade for Greenleaf Lake?
- Greenleaf Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 237.77 acres.
Is Greenleaf 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. Greenleaf Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 25.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Greenleaf Lake?
- Greenleaf Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 38 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Greenleaf Lake?
- Greenleaf Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet and an average depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 237.77 acres.
What fish are in Greenleaf Lake?
- Fish species found in Greenleaf Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Greenleaf Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Greenleaf Lake?
- Greenleaf Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Greenleaf Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Greenleaf Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Meeker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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State Parks Near Greenleaf Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA20 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory