Mcknight Lake
Mcknight Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 146 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 58 µg/L. Surface area: 31 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Area
- 31 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Mcknight Lake →
Next lake in Carver County
Mcknight Lake is a 31-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including black bullhead, bluegill, and green sunfish. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 37 other monitored lakes in Carver County, Mcknight Lake ranks #30 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.
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 2.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 146 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 58 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 146 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 58 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Mcknight Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mcknight 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 Mcknight Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Mcknight Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Mcknight Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in Jan (about 37°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 371 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mcknight Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Public Access | No |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Mcknight Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mcknight Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.012 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.7 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.99 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Mcknight Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Mcknight Lake, built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Chaska East Creek; earth-type dam, 8 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 31 ac
- Normal storage
- 82 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 82 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5.93 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- City of Chaska
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN01263 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Mcknight 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 MN10-0216-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #30 of 38 lakes in Carver County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Mcknight Lake holds Grade F. 2 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 Mcknight Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mcknight Lake?
- Mcknight Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 146 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 58 µg/L. Surface area: 31 acres.
Is Mcknight 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. Mcknight Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 58 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mcknight Lake?
- Mcknight Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 371 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in Mcknight Lake?
- Fish species found in Mcknight Lake include black bullhead, bluegill, green sunfish. Mcknight Lake is located in Carver County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
204 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA204 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 (2)
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder