Hilltop Pd Lake
Hilltop Pd Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 97 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 36.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 39.85 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 40 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Hilltop Pd Lake →
Next lake in Dakota County
Hilltop Pd Lake is a 40-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Hilltop Pd Lake ranks #39 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 97 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 36.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 97 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 36.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hilltop Pd Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hilltop Pd Lake in Dakota 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 Hilltop Pd Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Hilltop Pd Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Hilltop Pd Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Nov (about 42°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 45 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 118% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hilltop Pd 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
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-05-21 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 31.52 | 0.09 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 20.76 | 0.47 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 7.57 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 6.56 | 0.56 lb |
| GOS | 3.57 | 0.12 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.11 | 0.15 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
Black Bullhead
From the 2025-05-21 survey
Blackhawk Lake is a 54-acre, class 42 lake located in the City of Eagan. The south shoreline is located within Blackhawk Lake Park, which is managed by the City of Eagan Parks and Recreation Department, and the north shoreline is developed with single-family homes. The City of Eagan maintains a carry-in boat access,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hilltop Pd Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BlackhawkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BlackhawkFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BlackhawkPublic 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 | → Stable | -0.013 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.5 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.01 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Hilltop Pd 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 MN19-0066-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #39 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Hilltop Pd Lake holds Grade F. 3 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 Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Hilltop Pd Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hilltop Pd Lake?
- Hilltop Pd Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 97 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 36.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 39.85 acres.
Is Hilltop Pd Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Hilltop Pd Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 36.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hilltop Pd Lake?
- Hilltop Pd Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 45 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hilltop Pd Lake?
- Hilltop Pd Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 39.85 acres.
What fish are in Hilltop Pd Lake?
- Fish species found in Hilltop Pd Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed. Hilltop Pd Lake is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
Explore Hilltop Pd Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
53 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA53 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric 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
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder