Schwappauf Lake
Hennepin County, MinnesotaEutrophic
Schwappauf Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.
A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. A maximum depth of 29 ft puts Schwappauf Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. Schwappauf Lake is small — 40 acres alongside 1.1 miles of shoreline — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Schwappauf Lake sits at rank 52 of 95 in Hennepin County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Schwappauf Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Schwappauf Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-10-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 4.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 65.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.4 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 65.1 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 39.75 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 73% |
| Public Access | No |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #52 of 95 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Schwappauf Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1992-08-04 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 9.35 | 0.31 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 8.52 | 0.71 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 5.05 | 0.88 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.17 | 0.27 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.93 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.88 | 1.73 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1992-08-04 survey
NUMBERS OF FISH CAPTURED WERE LOW DUE TO THE FISH KILL LAST WINTER. NOP WERE THE ONLY FISH CAPTURED IN THE GILLNETS, AND WERE SAMPLED IN NUMBERS NEAR THE STATE AND LOCAL MEDIANS FOR GILLNETS AND TRAPNETS. ONE NOP WAS AGE 0 (TWO FISH OF SIMILAR SIZE WERE GILLED IN TRAPNET LEADS), TWO AGE 3, ONE AGE 4, AND TWO AGE 5.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Schwappauf Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SchandellFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2023-10-03
Monitoring stations: 1