Spring Lake
Spring Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 1494.16 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 1,494 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Dakota County
Why Spring 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 Spring 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.
Spring Lake is a 1,494-acre lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake supports 21 documented fish species including American eel, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-10-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Spring Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Spring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spring 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 Spring Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,494 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 18.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Spring Lake ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spring 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2001-07-30 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Common Carp | 4.35 | 2.86 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 4.28 | 1.6 lb |
| GIS | 4.11 | 0.29 lb |
| MOE | 3.22 | 0.91 lb |
| SAR | 3.19 | 1.11 lb |
| GOE | 3.17 | 0.93 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Common Carp
Channel Catfish
GIS
MOE
From the 2001-07-30 survey
Spring Lake contains a wide array of fish species due to its direct connection to the Mississippi River. Riverine species such as carp, freshwater drum, mooneye, goldeye, and various redhorse species are abundant. Channel catfish were the most abundant gamefish sampled for the third straight survey. Individuals up to…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Spring Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SpringFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SpringPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Spring Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Met Council - Eagles Point WwtpCottage Grove · 2.5 mi away · NPDES MN0029904MajorRecent violation
- 3M Cottage Grove CenterCottage Grove · 2.9 mi away · NPDES MN0001449MajorRecent 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.
Graded lakes near Spring Lake
Spring Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Spring Lake
What is the water quality grade for Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 1494.16 acres.
Is Spring Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Spring Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 1494.16 acres.
What fish are in Spring Lake?
- Fish species found in Spring Lake include American eel, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, gizzard shad, golden redhorse, goldeye, mooneye, northern pike, quillback, river carpsucker, sauger, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth buffalo, walleye, white bass, white crappie. Spring Lake is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Spring Lake Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Spring Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2023
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
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