Nokomis Lake
Nokomis Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 33 ft
- Area
- 201 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
- Open water
- 240 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Nokomis Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Nokomis Lake is a 201-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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, Nokomis Lake ranks #40 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Nokomis Lake 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.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 58 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 25.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 58 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 25.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Nokomis Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Nokomis 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Nokomis Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Nokomis Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Nokomis Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. 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.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 970 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Nokomis Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33 ft |
| Surface Area | 201 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 50% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake NokomisPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Nokomis 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: 2023-07-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 282.75 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 55.93 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluegill | 50.87 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Crappie | 38.85 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 13.15 | 0.35 lb |
| JND | 8.24 | — |
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.
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 Nokomis Lake. 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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.149 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.37 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.75 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (90 observations).
Estimated open water season: 240 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-01 (1991) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-28
EPA Impairment Status
Nokomis 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 MN27-0019-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #40 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Nokomis Lake holds Grade D. 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 Nokomis Lake
What is the water quality grade for Nokomis Lake?
- Nokomis Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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 Nokomis Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Nokomis Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 6 samples across 6 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Nokomis Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Minnesota's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Nokomis Lake?
- Nokomis Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, 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 Nokomis Lake?
- Nokomis Lake has a maximum depth of 33 feet. The lake covers 201.24 acres.
What fish are in Nokomis Lake?
- Fish species found in Nokomis Lake include black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, tiger muskellunge, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Nokomis Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Nokomis Lake thaw?
- Nokomis Lake 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 Nokomis Lake?
- Nokomis Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Nokomis. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Nokomis Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
1.6 mi away · 53 ft
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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)
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