Independence Lake
Hennepin County, Minnesota832 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Independence Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 58 ft max depth
- Public access
Independence Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 68.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 832.02 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 21, 2025 caught 7.56 walleye per gill net at Independence Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Independence Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 60 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Independence Lake is a 832-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 58 feet. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. 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 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Independence Lake ranks #36 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-17. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Independence Lake covers about 830 acres in Hennepin County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 2, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Independence Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Independence Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing17 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 2
- Deep water58 ft surveyed max depth
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. Independence Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Independence 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 Independence Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Independence Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Phosphorus 68.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 18.6 µg/L. TSI 60.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 68.8µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 18.6µg/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. | 60 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Independence Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Independence Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 61°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 63°F) and coldest in Apr (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (45°F) to its warmest (63°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,929 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Independence Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Independence Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (270,396 cells/mL) on June 27, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 21, 2025 caught 7.56 walleye per gill net at Independence Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Independence Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-21 (Standard Survey).
15 surveys on file · most recent 2025-07-21 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 44.28 | 3–11 in 2025-07-21 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Crappie | 23.20 | 4–11 in 2025-07-21 | 0.23 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 20.48 | ||
| Yellow Perch | 18.10 | 5–8 in 2025-07-21 | 0.14 lb |
| White Crappie | 8.19 | 10 in 1998-07-27 | 0.22 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.
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
White Crappie
From the 2025-07-21 survey
Independence is an 832-acre lake located in western Hennepin County in the city of Maple Plain. Baker Park Reserve (Three Rivers Park District) borders the southeast portion of the lake and provides a two-lane concrete boat access (subject to park hours and parking fee), as well as shore fishing, a swimming beach and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Independence Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — IndependenceFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — IndependenceFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — IndependencePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
58 ft
Surface area
832 acres
Shoreline
7.5 mi
Littoral zone
51%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
5 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
942 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Baker Park ReservePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Independence Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Independence Lake in Hennepin 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 Independence Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Independence 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 →
Follow Independence Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Independence Lake
- → Independence Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Independence Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Independence Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Independence Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-37.17 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+2.25 µg/L/yr4 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 2
Earliest Mar 7, 2017 · Latest May 4, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 5
Earliest Nov 20, 2014 · Latest Dec 21, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Mar 31
2026
34 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Independence 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 MN27-0176-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Independence Lake
Where is Independence Lake?
- Independence Lake is a lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Independence Lake?
- Independence Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 68.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 832.02 acres.
Is Independence Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Independence 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 Independence Lake?
- Independence Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October, from 1,929 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Independence Lake?
- Independence Lake has a maximum depth of 58 feet. The lake covers 832.02 acres.
What fish are in Independence Lake?
- Fish species found in Independence Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Independence Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Independence Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 21, 2025 caught 7.56 walleye per gill net at Independence Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Independence Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Independence Lake thaw?
- Independence Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 2. Ice typically forms around Dec 5. The open water season is approximately 247 days.
Does Independence Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Independence Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (270,396 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Independence Lake?
- Independence Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Baker Park Reserve. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Independence Lake?
- Independence 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 Independence 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 Hennepin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare Independence Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
397 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
MNPCA397 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 4500 N C ~ Persufate Method for Total Nitrogen
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate