Lee Lake
Lee Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 21.19 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 21 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 1
- Open water
- 240 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lee Lake →
Next lake in Dakota County
Lee Lake is a 21-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Lee Lake ranks #27 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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: 39 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 16 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 39 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 16 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lee Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lee 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 Lee Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lee Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lee Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 63 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lee Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Fishing Lee Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.215 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (22 observations).
Estimated open water season: 240 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-02-27 (2024) | 2023-04-12 (2023) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-11 (2014) | 2016-12-08 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-02-27
EPA Impairment Status
Lee Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN19-0027-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.96 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #27 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lee 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.
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Lee Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lee Lake?
- Lee Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 16 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 21.19 acres.
Is Lee 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. Lee Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 16 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lee Lake?
- Lee Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 63 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lee Lake?
- Lee Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 21.19 acres.
When does Lee Lake thaw?
- Lee Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 1. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 240 days.
Explore Lee Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
52 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA52 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate