Meadow Lake
Meadow Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 78.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Mar 29
- Open water
- 233 days
Next lake in Hennepin County
Meadow Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Meadow Lake ranks #19 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Meadow Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 78.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 78.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Meadow Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Meadow 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Meadow Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Meadow Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Oct (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 111 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Meadow Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Meadow Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.9 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -22.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.6 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (28 observations).
Estimated open water season: 233 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-13 (2016) | 2013-04-26 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2006-10-24 (2006) | 2015-12-24 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2021-03-24
EPA Impairment Status
Meadow 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 MN27-0057-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #19 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Meadow Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Meadow Lake
What is the water quality grade for Meadow Lake?
- Meadow Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 78.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L.
Is Meadow Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Meadow Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Meadow Lake?
- Meadow Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 111 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When does Meadow Lake thaw?
- Meadow Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 29. Ice typically forms around Nov 17. The open water season is approximately 233 days.
Explore Meadow Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
75 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA75 samples · 2022–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate