Ox Yoke Lake
Ox Yoke Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 396 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Mean depth
- ~12 ft est.
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Mar 29
- Open water
- 236 days
Next lake in Hennepin County
Why Ox Yoke Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Ox Yoke Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Ox Yoke Lake is a lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 12 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-06-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Ox Yoke Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Ox Yoke Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 396 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 396 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.2 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Ox Yoke Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ox Yoke 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Ox Yoke Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Ox Yoke Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.1 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (22 observations).
Estimated open water season: 236 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-12 (2016) | 2014-04-28 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-05 (2017) | 2006-12-01 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-04-22
Graded lakes near Ox Yoke Lake
Ox Yoke Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Ox Yoke Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ox Yoke Lake?
- Ox Yoke Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 396 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.2 µg/L.
Is Ox Yoke Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Ox Yoke Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Ox Yoke Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Ox Yoke Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 12 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
When does Ox Yoke Lake thaw?
- Ox Yoke Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 29. Ice typically forms around Nov 20. The open water season is approximately 236 days.
Explore Ox Yoke Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA23 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate