Lotus Lake
Lotus Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 245.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 245 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
- Open water
- 241 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lotus Lake →
Next lake in Carver County
Lotus Lake is a 245-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Water quality is graded D 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 brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 37 other monitored lakes in Carver County, Lotus Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 5.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 40.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 19.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lotus Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lotus Lake in Carver 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 Lotus Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lotus Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lotus Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Jan (about 38°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,300 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lotus Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 245 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 74% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- South Lotus Lake ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lotus 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
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-30 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 80.41 | 0.15 lb |
| SFS | 62.00 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 40.72 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 31.51 | 1.09 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 16.95 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.94 | 5.13 lb |
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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
From the 2025-06-30 survey
Lotus is a 245-acre (182 littoral acres) lake with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Lotus is located north of Chanhassen in northeastern Carver County. Lotus is primarily managed for Walleye and Largemouth Bass but also supports catchable populations of Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike. Walleye fingerlings are…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lotus Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LotusFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LotusFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LotusPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.199 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.61 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.1 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (31 observations).
Estimated open water season: 241 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-13 (2018) | 2021-12-08 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-30
EPA Impairment Status
Lotus 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 MN10-0006-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 38 lakes in Carver County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lotus Lake holds Grade D. 3 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 Carver County
Frequently asked questions about Lotus Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lotus Lake?
- Lotus Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 245.1 acres.
Is Lotus 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. Lotus Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 19.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lotus Lake?
- Lotus Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 1,300 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lotus Lake?
- Lotus Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 245.1 acres.
What fish are in Lotus Lake?
- Fish species found in Lotus Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lotus Lake is located in Carver County, Minnesota.
When does Lotus Lake thaw?
- Lotus Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 241 days.
Are there boat ramps on Lotus Lake?
- Lotus Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include South Lotus Lake Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lotus Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Carver County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
496 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
MNPCA496 samples · 2020–2025
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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate