Gun Club Lake
Gun Club Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 154 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9.5 ft. Surface area: 102.58 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 9.5 ft
- Area
- 103 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Dakota County
Gun Club Lake is a 103-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Gun Club Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-24. 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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 154 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 154 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Gun Club Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gun Club Lake in Dakota 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
Gun Club Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 73°F) and coldest in Oct (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 23 field readings (2023–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gun Club Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 9.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 103 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 99% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Gun Club 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-06-06 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 30.62 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 15.27 | 0.4 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 11.92 | 0.09 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 10.82 | 0.1 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 5.81 | 0.36 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 2.90 | 0.57 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.
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Pumpkinseed
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2017-06-06 survey
Snelling Lake is located in Fort Snelling State Park, one of the most popular state parks in Minnesota. Shore fishing locations include a pier on the north end of the lake. Boat access is available on the southern end of the lake but gas engines are prohibited. This shallow class 43 lake is heavily vegetated with a…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Gun Club Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SnellingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SnellingFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SnellingPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.106 m/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Gun Club 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 MN27-0001-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.32 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #20 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Gun Club Lake
What is the water quality grade for Gun Club Lake?
- Gun Club Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 154 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9.5 ft. Surface area: 102.58 acres.
Is Gun Club Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Gun Club Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Gun Club Lake?
- Gun Club Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 23 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Gun Club Lake?
- Gun Club Lake has a maximum depth of 9.5 feet. The lake covers 102.58 acres.
What fish are in Gun Club Lake?
- Fish species found in Gun Club Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Gun Club Lake is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
Explore Gun Club Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA40 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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