Hendricks Lake
Hendricks Lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 1521.72 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 9 ft
- Area
- 1,522 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 5
- Open water
- 234 days
Next lake in Lincoln County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Hendricks Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 8 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Why Hendricks Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Hendricks Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Hendricks Lake is a 1,522-acre lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Hendricks Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Hendricks Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hendricks Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hendricks Lake in Lincoln 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Hendricks Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Hendricks Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
Water Temperature
Hendricks Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°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 72 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hendricks Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,522 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 43% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Hendricks Lake (East)Public
- Hendricks Lake (South)Public
Showing 2 of 4 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hendricks Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
22 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-18 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Bass | 277.72 | 0.91 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 155.21 | 0.44 lb |
| SUN | 106.72 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 51.55 | 0.26 lb |
| OTM | 40.62 | — |
| Fathead Minnow | 30.78 | — |
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 Bass
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-08-18 survey
Hendricks Lake is on the Minnesota - South Dakota border and is adjacent to the southwestern Minnesota town of Hendricks. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks comanage the fishery and border waters fishing regulations apply. An aeration system is often…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hendricks Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HendricksFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HendricksFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HendricksPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.002 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -15.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (42 observations).
Estimated open water season: 234 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-02-25 (2024) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-09 (2018) | 2017-12-13 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-15
EPA Impairment Status
Hendricks 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 MN41-0110-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Hendricks Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Hendricks WwtpHendricks · 0.5 mi away · NPDES MN0021121
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Hendricks Lake
Hendricks Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Hendricks Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hendricks Lake?
- Hendricks Lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 1521.72 acres.
Is Hendricks Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Hendricks Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hendricks Lake?
- Hendricks Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 72 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hendricks Lake?
- Hendricks Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 1521.72 acres.
What fish are in Hendricks Lake?
- Fish species found in Hendricks Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, crappie, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, smallmouth bass, suckers, sunfish, walleye, white bass, white crappie, white sucker, yellow perch. Hendricks Lake is located in Lincoln County, Minnesota.
When does Hendricks Lake thaw?
- Hendricks Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 234 days.
Are there boat ramps on Hendricks Lake?
- Hendricks Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hendricks Lake (East), Hendricks Lake (South), among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Hendricks Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Lincoln County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
34 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
MNPCA34 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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