Hiawatha Lake
Hiawatha Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 67 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 52.93 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 33 ft
- Area
- 53 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 5
- Open water
- 249 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Hiawatha Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Hiawatha Lake is a 53-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Hiawatha Lake ranks #39 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Hiawatha Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 6 samples across 6 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Minnesota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 67 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 22.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 67 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 22.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hiawatha Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hiawatha Lake in Hennepin 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Hiawatha Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Hiawatha Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Hiawatha Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in Feb (about 35°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 833 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hiawatha Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33 ft |
| Surface Area | 53 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 47% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hiawatha 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
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 76.96 | 0.18 lb |
| Bluegill | 8.08 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.65 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.69 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.34 | 1.89 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.77 | 0.07 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
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
From the 2025-07-15 survey
Hiawatha is small, 53-acre lake, located in South Minneapolis. The lake reaches a maximum depth of 33 feet, and about half the lake is 15 feet deep or less. Minnehaha Creek flows through Lake Hiawatha, with the steam's inflow and out flow along the southern shore of the lake. Minneapolis city park land surrounds the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hiawatha Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HiawathaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.149 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.37 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.75 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (21 observations).
Estimated open water season: 249 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-06 (2024) | 2018-04-27 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2022-11-20 (2022) | 2024-01-10 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-06
EPA Impairment Status
Hiawatha 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 MN27-0018-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Hiawatha Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Minneapolis Dept Public WorksMinneapolis · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MN0046744
- Saint Paul Cso Public WorksSaint Paul · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MN0025470
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #39 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Hiawatha Lake holds Grade D. 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 Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Hiawatha Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hiawatha Lake?
- Hiawatha Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 67 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 52.93 acres.
Is Hiawatha Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Hiawatha Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 6 samples across 6 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Hiawatha Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Minnesota's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Hiawatha Lake?
- Hiawatha Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 833 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hiawatha Lake?
- Hiawatha Lake has a maximum depth of 33 feet. The lake covers 52.93 acres.
What fish are in Hiawatha Lake?
- Fish species found in Hiawatha Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Hiawatha Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Hiawatha Lake thaw?
- Hiawatha Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5. Ice typically forms around Dec 10. The open water season is approximately 249 days.
Explore Hiawatha Lake across LakeGrade
1.3 mi away · 53 ft
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Where this data comes from
609 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
MNPCA609 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity, Probe 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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate