Minnewashta Lake
Minnewashta Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 679.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 70 ft
- Area
- 680 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 5
- Open water
- 243 days
Next lake in Carver County
Minnewashta Lake is a 680-acre mesotrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 70 feet (15-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 37 other monitored lakes in Carver County, Minnewashta Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Minnewashta 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Minnewashta Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Minnewashta 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Minnewashta 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 →
Water Temperature
Minnewashta Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 65°F) and coldest in Jan (about 36°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 580 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Minnewashta Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Minnewashta Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (310,456 cells/mL) on October 25, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 70 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 680 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 55% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake Minnewashta, Regional Park (East)Public
- Lake Minnewashta, Regional Park (Northeast)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Minnewashta 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 140.77 | 1.59 lb |
| Bluegill | 60.83 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 25.54 | — |
| BKF | 7.68 | — |
| Northern Pike | 6.71 | 1.49 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 5.51 | 0.69 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
BKF
Northern Pike
From the 2025-07-07 survey
Minnewashta is a 738-acre (371 littoral acres) lake with a maximum depth of 70 feet. Minnewashta is located in the City of Chanhassen in northeast Carver County. Minnewashta is primarily managed for Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass but includes catchable populations of Bluegill and Black Crappie. Public water access…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Minnewashta Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MinnewashtaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MinnewashtaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.105 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (57 observations).
Estimated open water season: 243 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-06 (2024) | 2018-05-03 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 1985-11-21 (1985) | 1998-12-22 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-30
EPA Impairment Status
Minnewashta 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 MN10-0009-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 38 lakes in Carver County
Nearby Lakes in Carver County
Frequently asked questions about Minnewashta Lake
What is the water quality grade for Minnewashta Lake?
- Minnewashta Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 679.7 acres.
Is Minnewashta Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Minnewashta Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Minnewashta Lake?
- Minnewashta Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, from 580 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Minnewashta Lake?
- Minnewashta Lake has a maximum depth of 70 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 679.7 acres.
What fish are in Minnewashta Lake?
- Fish species found in Minnewashta Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Minnewashta Lake is located in Carver County, Minnesota.
When does Minnewashta Lake thaw?
- Minnewashta Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5. Ice typically forms around Dec 4. The open water season is approximately 243 days.
Does Minnewashta Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Minnewashta Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (310,456 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Minnewashta Lake?
- Minnewashta Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Minnewashta, Regional Park (East), Lake Minnewashta, Regional Park (Northeast). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Minnewashta Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Minnewashta Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Minnewashta Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
233 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA233 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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