Peltier Lake
Peltier Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 357.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 50.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 551.92 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 552 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 7
- Open water
- 236 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Peltier Lake →
Next lake in Anoka County
Peltier Lake is a 552-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, Peltier Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 357.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 50.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 74.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 357.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 50.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 74 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Peltier Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Peltier Lake in Anoka 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 Peltier Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Peltier Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Peltier Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in Feb (about 36°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 563 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Peltier Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Peltier Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was very high (1,499,685 cells/mL) on July 19, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 552 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 75% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park ReservePublic
- Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park ReservePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Peltier 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
18 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 60.09 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 38.79 | 0.6 lb |
| Black Crappie | 17.11 | 0.23 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 13.20 | 0.11 lb |
| Common Carp | 6.84 | 7.03 lb |
| White Sucker | 6.14 | 2.25 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.
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-08-11 survey
Peltier Lake is a 551 acre, class 38 lake, located in eastern Anoka County within the Rice Creek watershed. A dam was constructed at the outlet to control the water level of Peltier and Centerville Lakes. Winter aeration via pump and baffle system has been operated as needed since 1988. Peltier Lake is part of a study…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Peltier Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PeltierFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Peltier (1994)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PeltierFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PeltierPublic 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 | +0.147 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -11 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -9.85 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (95 observations).
Estimated open water season: 236 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2013-04-30 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-03 (1991) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-04-01
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Peltier Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Peltier Lake (completed 1930), built primarily for recreation on the Rice Creek-TR; concrete-type dam, 13 ft tall and 150 ft long.
- Surface area
- 301 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,255 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,650 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 110 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- City of St. Paul
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00499 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Peltier 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 MN02-0004-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #20 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Peltier Lake holds Grade F. 3 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 Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about Peltier Lake
What is the water quality grade for Peltier Lake?
- Peltier Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 357.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 50.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 551.92 acres.
Is Peltier Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Peltier Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 50.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Peltier Lake?
- Peltier Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 563 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Peltier Lake?
- Peltier Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 551.92 acres.
What fish are in Peltier Lake?
- Fish species found in Peltier Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Peltier Lake is located in Anoka County, Minnesota.
When does Peltier Lake thaw?
- Peltier Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 236 days.
Does Peltier Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Peltier Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was very high (1,499,685 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Peltier Lake?
- Peltier Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Peltier Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
279 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA279 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
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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