Schmitt Lake
Schmitt Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Mean depth
- ~10 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Schmitt Lake →
Next lake in Dakota County
Schmitt Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 10 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Schmitt Lake ranks #29 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 48 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 19 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 48 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Schmitt Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Schmitt 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Schmitt Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Schmitt 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
Schmitt Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2021–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Schmitt Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~10 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Schmitt 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 Schmitt 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.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.207 m/yr | 2 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Schmitt Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Kinder MorganSouth St Paul · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MN0070424
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 #29 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Schmitt Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Schmitt Lake
What is the water quality grade for Schmitt Lake?
- Schmitt Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19 µg/L.
Is Schmitt 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. Schmitt Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 19 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Schmitt Lake?
- Schmitt Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 15 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Schmitt Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Schmitt Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 10 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Schmitt Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
31 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA31 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder