Schwappauf Lake
Schwappauf Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 65.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 39.75 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 40 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Schwappauf Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Schwappauf Lake is a 40-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Schwappauf Lake ranks #52 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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 4.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 65.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 65.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Schwappauf Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Schwappauf Lake in Hennepin 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 Schwappauf Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Schwappauf Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Schwappauf Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°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 92 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Schwappauf Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 73% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Hafften LakePublic
Fishing Schwappauf Lake
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SchandellFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.02 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +20.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Schwappauf Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0199-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.5 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Schwappauf Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Meadows Of Whisper Creek WwtpGreenfield · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MN0066753Recent violation
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 #52 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Schwappauf 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.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Schwappauf Lake
What is the water quality grade for Schwappauf Lake?
- Schwappauf Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 65.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 39.75 acres.
Is Schwappauf 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. Schwappauf Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Schwappauf Lake?
- Schwappauf Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 92 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Schwappauf Lake?
- Schwappauf Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 39.75 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Schwappauf Lake?
- Schwappauf Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hafften Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Schwappauf Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
81 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA81 samples · 2023–2024
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 (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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory