Lake Nokomis
Hennepin County, Minnesota201 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA records this lake as “Nokomis Lake.”
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Nokomis. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 33 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Nokomis in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 201.24 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 24, 2023 caught 12.17 walleye per gill net at Lake Nokomis. DNR survey details →
Lake Nokomis is a 201-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and common carp. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Lake Nokomis ranks #40 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-24. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lake Nokomis is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 4
- Deep water33 ft surveyed max depth
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Lake Nokomis never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 6 samples across 6 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Minnesota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Whether Lake Nokomis 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 Lake Nokomis
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Lake Nokomis, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 25.9 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 58µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 25.9µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 61 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake Nokomis
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lake Nokomis typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in Jan (about 38°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (38°F) to its warmest (73°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 970 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Nokomis water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 24, 2023 caught 12.17 walleye per gill net at Lake Nokomis.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Nokomis’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-24 (Standard Survey).
10 surveys on file · most recent 2023-07-24 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 282.75 | ||
| Yellow Perch | 55.93 | 5–8 in 2023-07-24 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluegill | 50.87 | 3–8 in 2023-07-24 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Crappie | 38.85 | 3–10 in 2023-07-24 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 13.15 | 9–10 in 2010-07-19 | 0.35 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Black Bullhead
From the 2023-07-24 survey
Lake Nokomis is a 201-acre lake with a maximum depth of 33 feet. All land surrounding Lake Nokomis is owned by the city of Minneapolis, and Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board maintains the property. There is a boat access on the northern shore of the lake, as well as two fishing piers and two swimming beaches on…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lake Nokomis. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — NokomisFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — NokomisFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — NokomisPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
33 ft
Surface area
201 acres
Shoreline
2.8 mi
Littoral zone
50%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
3 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
804 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake NokomisPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Nokomis
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Nokomis 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 Lake Nokomis are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Nokomis
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Lake Nokomis’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Nokomis
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: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-4.37 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-3.75 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 4
Earliest Mar 3, 2024 · Latest Apr 30, 2018
Typical ice-in
Nov 30
Earliest Nov 1, 1991 · Latest Dec 20, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Mar 28
2026
90 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Nokomis is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0019-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Nokomis
Where is Lake Nokomis?
- Lake Nokomis 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 Lake Nokomis?
- Lake Nokomis in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 25.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 201.24 acres.
Is Lake Nokomis safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lake Nokomis never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 6 samples across 6 seasons. That is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether Lake Nokomis is safe to swim in today is a call for Minnesota's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Nokomis?
- Lake Nokomis typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October, from 970 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Nokomis?
- Lake Nokomis has a maximum depth of 33 feet. The lake covers 201.24 acres.
What fish are in Lake Nokomis?
- Fish species found in Lake Nokomis include black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, tiger muskellunge, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lake Nokomis is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Nokomis?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 24, 2023 caught 12.17 walleye per gill net at Lake Nokomis. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Nokomis’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Lake Nokomis thaw?
- Lake Nokomis typically has ice-out around Apr 4. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 240 days.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Nokomis?
- Lake Nokomis has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Nokomis. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Nokomis?
- Lake Nokomis has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 Lake Nokomis across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
1.6 mi away · 53 ft
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Hennepin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Lake Nokomis
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
745 measurements from 4 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
MNPCA745 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity, Probe Method
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
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