Howard Lake
Howard Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Mean depth
- ~10 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Anoka County
Howard Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 10 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, Howard Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Howard Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Howard Lake in Anoka 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.
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Water Temperature
Howard Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 46 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Howard Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~10 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Howard Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Howard Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Howard Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Public Water Access Sites — HowardPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.14 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.6 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes in Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about Howard Lake
What is the water quality grade for Howard Lake?
- Howard Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L.
Is Howard Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Howard Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Howard Lake?
- Howard Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 46 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Howard Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Howard Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 10 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
What fish are in Howard Lake?
- Fish species found in Howard Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Howard Lake is located in Anoka County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
85 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
MNPCA85 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder