Independence Lake
Independence Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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.
- Clarity
- 4.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 58 ft
- Area
- 832 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 2
- Open water
- 247 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Independence Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
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. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2025. 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. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 68.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 68.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Independence Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Independence Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Independence Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 58 ft |
| Surface Area | 832 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 51% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Independence 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 44.28 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Crappie | 23.20 | 0.23 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 20.48 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 18.10 | 0.14 lb |
| SFS | 11.63 | — |
| White Crappie | 8.19 | 0.22 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.
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
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.002 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -37.17 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.25 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (34 observations).
Estimated open water season: 247 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-07 (2017) | 2018-05-04 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-20 (2014) | 2015-12-21 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-31
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0176-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #36 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Independence Lake
What is the water quality grade for Independence Lake?
- Independence Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Independence Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 18.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Independence Lake?
- Independence Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Independence Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Hennepin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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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)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate