Hope Lake
Meeker County, Minnesota274 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Hope Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 10 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Hope Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 167 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 140 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 273.98 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 28, 2004 caught 9.25 northern pike per gill net at Hope Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 19–31 inches. DNR survey details →
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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-05-03. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Hope Lake covers about 270 acres in Meeker County. The median ice-out date is April 13, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Hope Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Hope Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 13
Swimming conditions
No readingRecreation use not supported
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Hope Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Hope 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 Hope Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Hope 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 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 167 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 140 µg/L. TSI 75.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 167µg/L | Measured, not scored The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 140µg/L | Measured, not scored The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 75 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Hope Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (71°F) to its warmest (77°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 28, 2004 caught 9.25 northern pike per gill net at Hope Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 19–31 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hope Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2004-06-28 (Standard Survey).
4 surveys on file · most recent 2004-06-28 (Standard Survey)
22 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 122.27 | 3–12 in 2004-06-28 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 27.34 | 4–11 in 2004-06-28 | 0.21 lb |
| Common Carp | 8.30 | 16–23 in 2004-06-28 | 2.07 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.47 | 19–31 in 2004-06-28 | 4.02 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 2.61 | 6–12 in 2004-06-28 | 0.32 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.00 | 0.12 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
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
Lake Details
Max depth
10 ft
Surface area
274 acres
Shoreline
3.8 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,161 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
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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Fishing Hope Lake
Water quality readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2020–2023). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Worsening3 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 13
Earliest Apr 2, 2015 · Latest Apr 17, 2019
Most recent ice-out
Apr 13
2022
5 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
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.
Nearby Lakes in Meeker County
Frequently asked questions about Hope Lake
Where is Hope Lake?
- Hope Lake is a lake in Meeker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Hope Lake?
- Hope Lake in Meeker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Hope Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Hope Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 28, 2004 caught 9.25 northern pike per gill net at Hope Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 19–31 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hope Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Hope Lake thaw?
- Hope Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13.
Can I fish at Hope Lake?
- Public access to Hope Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Hope Lake across LakeQuality
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)
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate