Magda Lake
Hennepin County, MinnesotaView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Magda Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- Public access
- Limited data
Magda Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.7 µg/L.
Magda Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Magda Lake ranks #51 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Magda Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.1 ft of visibility
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 6
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Magda Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Magda 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 Magda Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Magda Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14.1 ft. Phosphorus 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 12.7 µg/L. TSI 52.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 59µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 12.7µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 52 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Magda Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Magda Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (63°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 58 field readings (2017–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Magda Lake water temperature breakdown →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Magda Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Magda 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 Magda Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Magda Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fishing Magda 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-2.43 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+2.21 µg/L/yr5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 6
Earliest Mar 18, 2012 · Latest Apr 27, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 30
Earliest Nov 18, 2008 · Latest Dec 23, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Apr 10
2019
13 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Magda 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: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0065-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Magda Lake
Where is Magda Lake?
- Magda 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 Magda Lake?
- Magda Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.7 µg/L.
Is Magda Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Magda Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Magda Lake?
- Magda Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 58 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When does Magda Lake thaw?
- Magda Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 6. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 238 days.
Can I fish at Magda Lake?
- Public access to Magda 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 Magda Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
31 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA31 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate