Grove Lake
Grove Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 345.45 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 345 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Pope County
Grove Lake is a 345-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pope County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 31 feet (10-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Pope County, Grove Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Grove Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 27 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Grove Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Grove Lake in Pope 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.
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Water Temperature
Grove Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Grove Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Average Depth | 10.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 345 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 66% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Grove Lake (Southeast)Public
- Grove Lake (East)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Grove Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-17 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BCS | 77.89 | — |
| BKF | 56.05 | — |
| White Sucker | 39.56 | 2.88 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 28.26 | 1.53 lb |
| CNM | 14.56 | — |
| Bluegill | 14.13 | 0.36 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.
White Sucker
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2023-07-17 survey
This nearshore survey was conducted during summer 2023 to assess populations of non-game species and small game fish using backpack electrofishing and seining. Backpack electrofishing and/or seining were conducted at 10 stations, representing a variety of habitat types, along the shoreline of Grove Lake. The survey…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Grove Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GroveFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GroveFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GrovePublic 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 | → Stable | +0.021 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.49 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.24 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Grove Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Grove Lake (completed 1930), built primarily for other on the Crow River North Fork; gravity-type dam, 7 ft tall and 50 ft long.
- Surface area
- 364 ac
- Normal storage
- 4,200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,860 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 15 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- WD of North Fork Crow River
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00254 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Grove 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 MN61-0023-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 20 lakes in Pope County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Grove Lake holds Grade C. 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 Pope County
Frequently asked questions about Grove Lake
What is the water quality grade for Grove Lake?
- Grove Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 345.45 acres.
Is Grove Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Grove Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Grove Lake?
- Grove Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Grove Lake?
- Grove Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet and an average depth of 10.3 feet. The lake covers 345.45 acres.
What fish are in Grove Lake?
- Fish species found in Grove Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Grove Lake is located in Pope County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Grove Lake?
- Grove Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Grove Lake (Southeast), Grove Lake (East). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Grove 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 Pope County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Grove Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
88 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
MNPCA88 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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