Greenleaf Lake
Meeker County, Minnesota238 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Greenleaf Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 18 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Greenleaf Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 18, 2022 caught 6.00 walleye per gill net at Greenleaf Lake. DNR survey details →
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). 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Greenleaf Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing13 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Greenleaf Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Greenleaf Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Greenleaf Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Greenleaf Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 77.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 25.3 µg/L. TSI 64.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 77.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 25.3µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 64 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Greenleaf Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Greenleaf Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (55°F) to its warmest (77°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 18, 2022 caught 6.00 walleye per gill net at Greenleaf Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Greenleaf Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-18 (Standard Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2022-07-18 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 79.64 | 7–15 in 2022-07-18 | 0.53 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 19.15 | 5–20 in 2022-07-18 | 1.48 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 15.04 | 4–7 in 2022-07-18 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.89 | 4–11 in 2022-07-18 | 0.23 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.87 | 2–8 in 2022-07-18 | 0.19 lb |
| White Crappie | 9.72 | 8–9 in 1996-07-22 | 0.24 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
18 ft
Average depth
6 ft
Surface area
238 acres
Shoreline
3.1 mi
Littoral zone
76%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
3 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,076 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Greenleaf LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Greenleaf Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Greenleaf Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Greenleaf Lake
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
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN47-0062-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Greenleaf Lake
Where is Greenleaf Lake?
- Greenleaf Lake is a lake in Meeker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Greenleaf Lake?
- Greenleaf Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Greenleaf Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Greenleaf Lake?
- Greenleaf Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Greenleaf Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 18, 2022 caught 6.00 walleye per gill net at Greenleaf Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Greenleaf Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Greenleaf Lake?
- Greenleaf Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Greenleaf Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Greenleaf Lake
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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