Jensen Lake
Jensen Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Mean depth
- ~14 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
Next lake in Dakota County
Jensen Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 14 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Jensen Lake ranks #19 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 28 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 28 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Jensen Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Jensen Lake in Dakota 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 Jensen Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Jensen Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 35 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Jensen Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~14 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Jensen 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.
Fishing Jensen Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Jensen 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 — JensenPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.107 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -14.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -13.71 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-13 (2016) | 1996-04-19 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 2023-11-24 (2023) | 2023-11-24 (2023) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-14
EPA Impairment Status
Jensen 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 MN19-0023-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.2 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #19 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Jensen Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Jensen Lake
What is the water quality grade for Jensen Lake?
- Jensen Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12 µg/L.
Is Jensen Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Jensen Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Jensen Lake?
- Jensen Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, from 35 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Jensen Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Jensen Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 14 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
When does Jensen Lake thaw?
- Jensen Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4.
Explore Jensen Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
179 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
MNPCA179 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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