Keller Lake
Keller Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 54.58 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 7 ft
- Area
- 55 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 1
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Keller Lake →
Next lake in Dakota County
Keller Lake is a 55-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 7 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Keller Lake ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Keller Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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 4.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 37.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 16.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 37.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 16.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Keller Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Keller 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Keller Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Keller 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
Keller Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Apr (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 108 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Keller Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 55 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
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 Keller 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
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1985-07-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 106.60 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 55.27 | 0.25 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 46.00 | 0.49 lb |
| Black Crappie | 18.27 | 0.1 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 16.33 | 0.07 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.40 | 5.3 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1985-07-08 survey
THERE IS A NICE POPULATION OF NORTHERN PIKE. WE COULD NOT SET THE GILLNET SO WE COULDN'T COMPARE IT TO THE STATE AND LOCAL MEDIANS, BUT THERE WERE ONLY NICE SIZE FISH IN OUR NETS. THE BLUEGILLS AND CRAPPIES WERE HIGH IN NUMBERS BUT VERY SMALL. A FEW NICE SIZE CRAPPIES WERE CAUGHT. NICE SIZE BASS WERE REPORTED TO BE…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Keller Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — KellerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.118 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.15 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (4 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-14 (2016) | 2023-04-13 (2023) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-13
EPA Impairment Status
Keller 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 MN19-0025-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Keller Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Keller Lake
What is the water quality grade for Keller Lake?
- Keller Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 54.58 acres.
Is Keller 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. Keller Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 16.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Keller Lake?
- Keller Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 108 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Keller Lake?
- Keller Lake has a maximum depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 54.58 acres.
What fish are in Keller Lake?
- Fish species found in Keller Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow bullhead. Keller Lake is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
When does Keller Lake thaw?
- Keller Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 1.
Explore Keller Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Dakota County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Keller Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
87 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA87 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
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
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