Maria Lake
Maria Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 457 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 249.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 130.68 acres.
- Clarity
- 0.8 ft
- Max depth
- 6 ft
- Area
- 131 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Maria Lake →
Next lake in Carver County
Maria Lake is a 131-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 6 feet (5-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including black bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 37 other monitored lakes in Carver County, Maria Lake ranks #36 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-10-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Maria Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 0.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 457 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 249.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 86.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 457 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 249.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 86 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Maria Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Maria 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 Maria Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Maria Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 6 ft |
| Average Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 131 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Maria LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Maria Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2001-05-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 18.00 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 16.50 | 0.31 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 2001-05-15 survey
Maria lake was found to contain black bullheads and fathead minnows during an electrofishing assessment. Heavy growth of narrow-leaf pondweed was also encountered.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Maria Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MariaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MariaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Maria 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 MN10-0058-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #36 of 38 lakes in Carver County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Maria Lake holds Grade F. 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 Carver County
Frequently asked questions about Maria Lake
What is the water quality grade for Maria Lake?
- Maria Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 0.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 457 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 249.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 130.68 acres.
Is Maria Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Maria Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 249.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Maria Lake?
- Maria Lake has a maximum depth of 6 feet and an average depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 130.68 acres.
What fish are in Maria Lake?
- Fish species found in Maria Lake include black bullhead. Maria Lake is located in Carver County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Maria Lake?
- Maria Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Maria Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Maria Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Carver County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Maria Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA18 samples · 2021
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