Henderson Lake
Henderson Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 57 ft. Surface area: 75.32 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 57 ft
- Area
- 75 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
- Open water
- 227 days
Next lake in Kandiyohi County
Henderson Lake is a 75-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 57 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 24 other monitored lakes in Kandiyohi County, Henderson Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-07. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 7.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 7.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Henderson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Henderson Lake in Kandiyohi 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
Henderson Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Sep (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 34 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Henderson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 57 ft |
| Surface Area | 75 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Henderson LakePublic
- Ringo LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Henderson 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: 2025-06-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 80.96 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 23.31 | 0.97 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 13.79 | 0.09 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.48 | 0.11 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.52 | 0.05 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 4.03 | 0.76 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
Largemouth Bass
Hybrid Sunfish
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-06-23 survey
A standard survey was conducted on Henderson Lake in mid-June of 2025. A spring electrofishing survey was conducted on May 27, 2025, for post spawn Largemouth Bass. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e. spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Henderson Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HendersonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HendersonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HendersonPublic 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 | ↓ Declining | -0.179 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.23 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.43 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (16 observations).
Estimated open water season: 227 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-18 (2024) | 2008-04-24 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-19 (2014) | 2015-12-18 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-18
EPA Impairment Status
Henderson Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN34-0116-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 25 lakes in Kandiyohi County
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Henderson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Henderson Lake?
- Henderson Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 57 ft. Surface area: 75.32 acres.
Is Henderson Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Henderson Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Henderson Lake?
- Henderson Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 34 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Henderson Lake?
- Henderson Lake has a maximum depth of 57 feet. The lake covers 75.32 acres.
What fish are in Henderson Lake?
- Fish species found in Henderson Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Henderson Lake is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
When does Henderson Lake thaw?
- Henderson Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 227 days.
Are there boat ramps on Henderson Lake?
- Henderson Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Henderson Lake, Ringo Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Henderson Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
58 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA58 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate