Orchard Lake
Orchard Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 237.93 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 33 ft
- Area
- 238 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 8
- Open water
- 218 days
Next lake in Dakota County
Orchard Lake is a 238-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Orchard Lake ranks #23 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Orchard Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Orchard Lake in Dakota 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.
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Water Temperature
Orchard Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in Mar (about 42°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 153 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Orchard Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33 ft |
| Surface Area | 238 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 74% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Orchard LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Orchard 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
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-04 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 91.52 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 24.63 | 0.96 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 17.09 | 0.18 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 14.17 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 9.96 | 0.57 lb |
| CNM | 9.84 | — |
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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Hybrid Sunfish
Pumpkinseed
From the 2025-09-04 survey
Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Orchard Lake on September 4th, 2025, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 32 survey sites evenly spaced 70 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Orchard Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OrchardFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — OrchardFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — OrchardPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.036 m/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
Estimated open water season: 218 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 2008-11-24 (2008) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-03
EPA Impairment Status
Orchard 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 MN19-0031-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #23 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Orchard Lake
What is the water quality grade for Orchard Lake?
- Orchard Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 237.93 acres.
Is Orchard Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Orchard Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Orchard Lake?
- Orchard Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 153 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Orchard Lake?
- Orchard Lake has a maximum depth of 33 feet. The lake covers 237.93 acres.
What fish are in Orchard Lake?
- Fish species found in Orchard Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, tiger muskellunge, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Orchard Lake is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
When does Orchard Lake thaw?
- Orchard Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 8. Ice typically forms around Nov 12. The open water season is approximately 218 days.
Are there boat ramps on Orchard Lake?
- Orchard Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Orchard Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Orchard 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 Dakota 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
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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State Parks Near Orchard Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
172 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA172 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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