Hiawatha Lake
Hennepin County, Minnesota53 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Hiawatha Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 33 ft max depth
Hiawatha Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 15, 2025 caught 1.00 walleye per gill net at Hiawatha Lake. DNR survey details →
Hiawatha Lake is a 53-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Hiawatha Lake covers about 53 acres in Hennepin County. The median ice-out date is April 5, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Hiawatha Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Hiawatha Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing12 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 5
- Deep water33 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no 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.
Whether Hiawatha Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Hiawatha Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Hiawatha Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 67 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 22.5 µg/L. TSI 62.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 67µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 22.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 62 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Hiawatha Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Hiawatha Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (35°F) to its warmest (71°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 15, 2025 caught 1.00 walleye per gill net at Hiawatha Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hiawatha Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-15 (Standard Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2025-07-15 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 76.96 | 4–9 in 2025-07-15 | 0.18 lb |
| Bluegill | 8.08 | 2–7 in 2025-07-15 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.65 | 4–9 in 2025-07-15 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.69 | 4–11 in 2025-07-15 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.34 | 16–27 in 2025-07-15 | 1.89 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.77 | 2–5 in 2025-07-15 | 0.07 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
33 ft
Surface area
53 acres
Shoreline
1.2 mi
Littoral zone
47%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
No
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Hiawatha Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Hiawatha Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-4.37 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-3.75 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 5
Earliest Mar 6, 2024 · Latest Apr 27, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 10
Earliest Nov 20, 2022 · Latest Jan 10, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Mar 6
2024
21 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
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.
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Hiawatha Lake
Where is Hiawatha Lake?
- Hiawatha Lake is a lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Hiawatha Lake?
- Hiawatha Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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 is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether Hiawatha Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for Minnesota's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Hiawatha Lake?
- Hiawatha Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in October, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Hiawatha Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 15, 2025 caught 1.00 walleye per gill net at Hiawatha Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hiawatha Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Hiawatha Lake?
- Public access to Hiawatha Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Hiawatha Lake across LakeQuality
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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