Pitts Lake
Dakota County, MinnesotaView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Pitts Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
Pitts Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 43 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.2 µg/L.
Pitts Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including bluegill and largemouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Pitts Lake ranks #26 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-24. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Pitts Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Pitts Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Pitts Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus 43 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 8.2 µg/L. TSI 55.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4.9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 43µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 8.2µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 55 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Pitts Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Pitts Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Sep (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (72°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 29 field readings (2017–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pitts Lake water temperature breakdown →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Pitts Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pitts 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Pitts Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pitts Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pitts Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Worsening5 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.9 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+2.42 µg/L/yr5 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Pitts Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Pepsi-Cola CoBurnsville · 2.6 mi away · NPDES MN0060101
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.
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Pitts Lake
Where is Pitts Lake?
- Pitts Lake is a lake in Dakota County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Pitts Lake?
- Pitts Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 43 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.2 µg/L.
Is Pitts Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Pitts Lake?
- Pitts Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September, from 29 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in Pitts Lake?
- Fish species found in Pitts Lake include bluegill, largemouth bass. Pitts Lake is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
Can I fish at Pitts Lake?
- Public access to Pitts Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Pitts Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Pitts Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
113 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA113 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)