Hoff Lake
Hoff Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 111 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 38.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 138.53 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 79°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 139 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 211 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Hoff Lake →
Next lake in Meeker County
Hoff Lake is a 139-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Meeker County, Hoff Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 111 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 38.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 111 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 38.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hoff Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hoff Lake in Meeker 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 Hoff Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Hoff Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Hoff Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hoff Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 139 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Hoff LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hoff Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-07-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 155.14 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 15.48 | 0.21 lb |
| Northern Pike | 12.29 | 2.05 lb |
| Common Carp | 10.19 | 2.6 lb |
| Black Crappie | 8.82 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.35 | 0.17 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
Northern Pike
Common Carp
From the 2019-07-01 survey
A standard survey was conducted at Hoff Lake beginning on July 1, 2019, to monitor the lake's fish population. Hoff is a class 43 lake and net catches were compared to other similar lakes around the state. The 2015 MNDNR Fisheries lake management plan (LMP) listed Northern Pike as the primary management species at…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hoff Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HoffFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HoffPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (7 observations).
Estimated open water season: 211 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-02 (2015) | 2013-04-29 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-12 (2014) | 2012-11-24 (2012) |
Most recent ice-out: 2019-04-19
EPA Impairment Status
Hoff 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 MN47-0106-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Hoff Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Cedar Mills WwtpCedar Mills · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MN0066605Recent violation
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 #18 of 19 lakes in Meeker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Hoff Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Hoff Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hoff Lake?
- Hoff Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 111 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 38.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 138.53 acres.
Is Hoff 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. Hoff Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 38.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hoff Lake?
- Hoff Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hoff Lake?
- Hoff Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 138.53 acres.
What fish are in Hoff Lake?
- Fish species found in Hoff Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Hoff Lake is located in Meeker County, Minnesota.
When does Hoff Lake thaw?
- Hoff Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 12. The open water season is approximately 211 days.
Are there boat ramps on Hoff Lake?
- Hoff Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hoff Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Hoff Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA12 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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