Hydes Lake
Carver County, Minnesota222 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Hydes Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 18 ft max depth
- Public access
Hydes Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 94 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 59.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 222.19 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 24, 2017 caught 14.00 northern pike per gill net at Hydes Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 14–26 inches. DNR survey details →
Hydes Lake is a 222-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 37 other monitored lakes in Carver County, Hydes Lake ranks #31 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Hydes Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing8 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Hydes Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Hydes 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 Hydes Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Hydes 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 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 94 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 59.9 µg/L. TSI 68.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 94µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 59.9µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 68 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Hydes Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Hydes Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Jan (about 38°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (38°F) to its warmest (74°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 526 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hydes Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 24, 2017 caught 14.00 northern pike per gill net at Hydes Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 14–26 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hydes Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-07-24 (Standard Survey).
8 surveys on file · most recent 2017-07-24 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 56.45 | 4–14 in 2017-07-24 | 0.48 lb |
| Black Crappie | 25.05 | 6–11 in 2017-07-24 | 0.19 lb |
| Bluegill | 24.36 | 4–9 in 2017-07-24 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 10.23 | 7–15 in 2017-07-24 | 0.74 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.63 | 14–26 in 2017-07-24 | 2.28 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.56 | 5 in 2017-07-24 | 0.14 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
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Yellow Bullhead
From the 2017-07-24 survey
Hydes Lake is a 222-acre lake with a maximum depth of 18 feet, located northeast of Norwood Young America, in west central Carver County. Hydes Lake has been known to "boom or bust" in previous years, with the last partial winterkill occurring during the winter of 2010-2011. Hydes is actively managed for Largemouth…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hydes Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HydesFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HydesPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
18 ft
Surface area
222 acres
Shoreline
2.5 mi
Littoral zone
74%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
958 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Hydes LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Hydes Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hydes Lake in Carver 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Hydes Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Hydes 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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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hydes 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-2.9 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+6 µg/L/yr6 years
EPA Impairment Status
Hydes 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: Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN10-0088-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Carver County
Frequently asked questions about Hydes Lake
Where is Hydes Lake?
- Hydes Lake is a lake in Carver County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Hydes Lake?
- Hydes Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 94 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 59.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 222.19 acres.
Is Hydes Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Hydes Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Hydes Lake?
- Hydes Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October, from 526 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hydes Lake?
- Hydes Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 222.19 acres.
What fish are in Hydes Lake?
- Fish species found in Hydes Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Hydes Lake is located in Carver County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Hydes Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 24, 2017 caught 14.00 northern pike per gill net at Hydes Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 14–26 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hydes Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Hydes Lake?
- Hydes Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hydes Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Hydes Lake?
- Hydes Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 Hydes Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Carver County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
219 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA219 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory