Hilltop Pd Lake

Hilltop Pd Lake earns a D — measurements through 2024 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. Hilltop Pd Lake is a shallow lake at 12 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. The lake is compact at 40 acres, with 1.8 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Hilltop Pd Lake sits at rank 25 of 36 in Dakota County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Hilltop Pd Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery is bass-led, with 7 documented species across the lake's records. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.