Greenleaf Lake
Meeker County, MinnesotaEutrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric Greenleaf Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 66 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. A maximum depth of 18 ft puts Greenleaf Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 238 acres, Greenleaf Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 3.1 miles of shoreline. Within the 23 graded lakes of Meeker County, Greenleaf Lake sits at rank 23, near the bottom of the county list.
Greenleaf Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2023, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Walleye are documented at Greenleaf Lake, one of 13 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. 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 2023-09-18. 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
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 91 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 91 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Average Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 237.77 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 76% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Greenleaf Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Greenleaf Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Greenleaf Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #23 of 23 lakes in Meeker County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Greenleaf Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AMinnie-Belle LakeMeeker County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- CBelle LakeMeeker County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DWillie LakeMeeker County · mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DStahl'S LakeMcLeod County · mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Greenleaf Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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.
- —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
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
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2023-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1