Schultz Lake
Schultz Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Dakota County
Schultz Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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, Schultz Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-05. 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 8.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Schultz Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Schultz 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Schultz Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Schultz Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 32 field readings (2017–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Schultz Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Schultz 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.078 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.09 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Schultz 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 MN19-0064-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.17 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Schultz 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 Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Schultz Lake
What is the water quality grade for Schultz Lake?
- Schultz Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.5 µg/L.
Is Schultz Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Schultz Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Schultz Lake?
- Schultz Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 32 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Schultz Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Schultz Lake
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Where this data comes from
142 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA142 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database