Parkers Lake
Parkers Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 100.17 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in August
- 61°F
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 100 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 3
- Open water
- 244 days
Next lake in Hennepin County
Parkers Lake is a 100-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Parkers Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 52.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 52.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Parkers Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Parkers 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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Water Temperature
Parkers Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 61°F) and coldest in Jan (about 37°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 746 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Parkers Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 68% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Parkers Lake ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Parkers 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
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-06-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 422.88 | 1.18 lb |
| Bluegill | 70.82 | 0.15 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 9.90 | 0.58 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 8.30 | 0.08 lb |
| Black Crappie | 8.11 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 7.07 | 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
Brown Bullhead
Green Sunfish
From the 2017-06-12 survey
Parkers Lake is a 100-acre lake with a maximum depth of 37 feet, located in central Hennepin County, in the city of Plymouth. Parkers Lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass, but also supports catchable populations of Bluegill and Northern Pike. A Standard Survey (trap nets and gill nets) was conducted on…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Parkers Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ParkersFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ParkersPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.134 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.6 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.7 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (26 observations).
Estimated open water season: 244 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-27 (2003) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-31
EPA Impairment Status
Parkers 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 MN27-0107-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Parkers Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- MedivatorsPlymouth · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MN0063541Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #20 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Parkers Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Parkers Lake
What is the water quality grade for Parkers Lake?
- Parkers Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 100.17 acres.
Is Parkers Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Parkers Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Parkers Lake?
- Parkers Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August, from 746 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Parkers Lake?
- Parkers Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 100.17 acres.
What fish are in Parkers Lake?
- Fish species found in Parkers Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead. Parkers Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Parkers Lake thaw?
- Parkers Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 3. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 244 days.
Are there boat ramps on Parkers Lake?
- Parkers Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Parkers Lake Park. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
239 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA239 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 4500 N C ~ Persufate Method for Total Nitrogen
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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