Leven Lake
Leven Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 281.99 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 33 ft
- Area
- 282 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Pope County
Leven Lake is a 282-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pope County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet (13-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 19 other monitored lakes in Pope County, Leven Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-18. 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 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 31.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Leven Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Leven Lake in Pope 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 Leven Lake
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Water Temperature
Leven Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2011–2016) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Leven Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33 ft |
| Average Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 282 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 56% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Leven LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Leven 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
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-09 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 23.04 | 0.14 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 21.36 | — |
| Bluegill | 17.08 | 0.19 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.95 | 1.24 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 14.16 | 0.98 lb |
| BKF | 11.98 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Bass
From the 2025-06-09 survey
A summer trap net survey was conducted in Lake Leven by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment program staff on June 9 - June 10, 2025. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured ten species of fish, including zero species that are…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Leven Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LevenFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LevenPublic 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 | ↑ Improving | +0.053 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.6 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.04 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Leven 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 MN61-0066-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 20 lakes in Pope County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Leven Lake holds Grade C. 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 Pope County
Frequently asked questions about Leven Lake
What is the water quality grade for Leven Lake?
- Leven Lake in Pope County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 281.99 acres.
Is Leven Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Leven Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Leven Lake?
- Leven Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2016). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Leven Lake?
- Leven Lake has a maximum depth of 33 feet and an average depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 281.99 acres.
What fish are in Leven Lake?
- Fish species found in Leven Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Leven Lake is located in Pope County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Leven Lake?
- Leven Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Leven Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Leven Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Pope County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Sauk 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 Leven Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
74 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA74 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory