Loring Lake
Hennepin County, Minnesota7 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Loring Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Salinity / chlorides
- 16 ft max depth
- Public access
Loring Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 7.22 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 1, 2016 caught 18.00 black crappie per gill net at Loring Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–6 inches. DNR survey details →
Loring Lake is a 7-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish. Public access is available. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Loring Lake ranks #70 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Loring Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 3
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyBacteria tested: exceedances
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Based on E. coli testing, Loring Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 20% of 5 samples across 5 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Minnesota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Whether Loring Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Loring Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Loring Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.9 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 77 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 31.9 µg/L. TSI 64.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 77µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 31.9µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 64 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Loring Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Loring Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Feb (about 36°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (36°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 584 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Loring Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 1, 2016 caught 18.00 black crappie per gill net at Loring Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–6 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Loring Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-08-01 (Standard Survey).
3 surveys on file · most recent 2016-08-01 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 84.64 | 3–9 in 2007-08-27 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Crappie | 36.01 | 4–6 in 2016-08-01 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 32.43 | 3–6 in 2016-08-01 | 0.11 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 5.00 | 16–22 in 2016-08-01 | 2.71 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.16 | 3–4 in 2007-08-27 | 0.15 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Channel Catfish
From the 2016-08-01 survey
Loring Lake is a 7.6-acre pond located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The entire shoreline, which provides some shore angling opportunities and a fishing pier, is encompassed within Loring Park. The pond has been managed in the Fishing in the Neighborhood (FiN) program since 2001. The pond has a summer aeration system…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Loring Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LoringFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LoringFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
16 ft
Surface area
7 acres
Shoreline
0.6 mi
Littoral zone
89%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Loring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Loring 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Loring Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Loring Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
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Fishing Loring Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-13.34 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-2.15 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 3
Earliest Mar 1, 2024 · Latest Apr 19, 1996
Typical ice-in
Dec 3
Earliest Nov 1, 1991 · Latest Jan 16, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Mar 1
2024
60 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Loring Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0655-02 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
16 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Loring Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Minneapolis Municipal Storm WaterMinneapolis · 1.1 mi away · NPDES MN0061018Major
- Covanta Hennepin Energy Resource Co LpMinneapolis · 1.1 mi away · NPDES MN0057525Recent violation
- Hennepin County Energy CenterMinneapolis · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MN0057509Recent violation
- Us Bank StadiumMinneapolis · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MN0071188Recent violation
- University Of MinnesotaMinneapolis · 0.6 mi away · NPDES MN0070106
- Xcel Energy - Fifth Street SubstationMinneapolis · 1 mi away · NPDES MN0003301
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Loring Lake
Where is Loring Lake?
- Loring Lake is a lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Loring Lake?
- Loring Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 7.22 acres.
Is Loring Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Loring Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 20% of 5 samples across 5 seasons. That is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether Loring Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for Minnesota's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Loring Lake?
- Loring Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in October, from 584 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Loring Lake?
- Loring Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 7.22 acres.
What fish are in Loring Lake?
- Fish species found in Loring Lake include black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish. Loring Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Loring Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 1, 2016 caught 18.00 black crappie per gill net at Loring Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–6 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Loring Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Loring Lake thaw?
- Loring Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 3. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 244 days.
Can I fish at Loring Lake?
- Public access to Loring Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Loring Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
494 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
MNPCA494 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate