Hope Lake
Hope Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 167 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 140 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 273.98 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Area
- 274 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
Next lake in Meeker County
Why Hope Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Hope Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Hope Lake is a 274-acre lake in Meeker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-05-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Hope Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 167 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 140 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 75.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 167 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 140 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 75 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Hope Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hope 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Hope Lake
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Water Temperature
Hope Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Aug (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hope Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 274 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Long LakePublic
Fishing Hope Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2004-06-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 122.27 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 27.34 | 0.21 lb |
| Common Carp | 8.30 | 2.07 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.47 | 4.02 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 2.61 | 0.32 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.00 | 0.12 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
Yellow Perch
Common Carp
Northern Pike
From the 2004-06-28 survey
Gill nets, trap nets and shoreline seining were used to sample the Hope Lake fish population during the 2004 summer. Aquatic plant sampling and water quality monitoring were also conducted. Hope Lake has a history of winterkill, and fish population levels can fluctuate greatly depending on the frequency and severity…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hope Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HopeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.063 m/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (5 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-02 (2015) | 2019-04-17 (2019) |
| Ice-In | 2015-11-28 (2015) | 2021-12-10 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-13
EPA Impairment Status
Hope 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 MN47-0183-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Hope Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Ru-Be Dairy LlcGrove City · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MN0071706
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.
Graded lakes near Hope Lake
Hope Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Hope Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hope Lake?
- Hope Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 167 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 140 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 273.98 acres.
Is Hope Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Hope Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 140 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hope Lake?
- Hope Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hope Lake?
- Hope Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 273.98 acres.
When does Hope Lake thaw?
- Hope Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13.
Are there boat ramps on Hope Lake?
- Hope Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Long Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Hope Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Meeker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
10 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
MNPCA10 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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