Pike Lake
Pike Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 189.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 48.97 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 9 ft
- Area
- 49 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Mar 19
- Open water
- 258 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Pike Lake →
Next lake in Scott County
Pike Lake is a 49-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Scott County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Scott County, Pike Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-10. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 189.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 20.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 189.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 20.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Pike Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pike Lake in Scott 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 Pike Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pike Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Pike Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Apr (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 555 field readings (2016–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pike Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 49 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Pike 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
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1978-07-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 0.67 | 0.6 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 0.33 | 0.1 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1978-07-20 survey
Test nettting in Pike Lake caught 2 BLB and 1 YP in 3 trap nets and numerous salamanders in the gillnet set.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pike Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PikeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.036 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +19.09 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.72 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (15 observations).
Estimated open water season: 258 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-07 (2017) | 2009-03-25 (2009) |
| Ice-In | 2013-11-26 (2013) | 2009-12-04 (2009) |
Most recent ice-out: 2017-03-07
EPA Impairment Status
Pike 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 MN70-0076-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 21 lakes in Scott County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pike Lake holds Grade D. 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 Scott County
Frequently asked questions about Pike Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pike Lake?
- Pike Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 189.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 48.97 acres.
Is Pike Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Pike Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 20.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pike Lake?
- Pike Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 555 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pike Lake?
- Pike Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 48.97 acres.
When does Pike Lake thaw?
- Pike Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 19. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 258 days.
Explore Pike Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
403 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA403 samples · 2020–2025
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 (2)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate