Shaver Lake
Shaver Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Hennepin County
Why Shaver Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Shaver Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Shaver Lake is a lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Shaver Lake water quality
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Shaver Lake Water Quality Report Card (2026)
A printable one-page report card for Shaver Lake: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Shaver Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Shaver Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shaver 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Shaver Lake
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Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Jul 6, 2026, 5:00 AM from gauge 05289000 (Lake Minnetonka Abv Grays Bay Otlt In Minnetonka). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
Water Temperature
Shaver Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in Sep (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shaver Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Lake Minnetonka, Grays BayPublic
- Lake Minnetonka, Carson BayPublic
Fishing Shaver Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.399 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.57 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.85 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Shaver 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 MN27-0133-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.47 km)
Graded lakes near Shaver Lake
Shaver Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Shaver Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shaver Lake?
- Shaver Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility.
Is Shaver Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Shaver Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Shaver Lake?
- Shaver Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What is the water level at Shaver Lake?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Shaver Lake is 929.21 ft of gage height, recorded Jul 6, 2026, 5:00 AM at gauge 05289000. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.
Are there boat ramps on Shaver Lake?
- Shaver Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Minnetonka, Grays Bay, Lake Minnetonka, Carson Bay. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shaver Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA4 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory