Spring Lake
Spring Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 434 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 99.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 55°F
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Mar 30
- Open water
- 245 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Spring Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Spring Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Spring Lake ranks #75 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Murky, only visible to about 3.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 434 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 99.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 76.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 434 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 99.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 76 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Spring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spring 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 Spring Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Spring Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Spring Lake typically sits around 55°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 54°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 55°F) and coldest in Feb (about 42°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 385 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spring Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Spring Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.095 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -13.34 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.15 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
Estimated open water season: 245 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-04 (2024) | 2023-04-11 (2023) |
| Ice-In | 2023-11-27 (2023) | 2017-12-06 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-04
EPA Impairment Status
Spring 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 MN27-0654-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #75 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Spring Lake holds Grade F. 3 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 Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Spring Lake
What is the water quality grade for Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 434 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 99.1 µg/L.
Is Spring Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Spring Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 99.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake typically sits around 55°F at the surface in August, from 385 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When does Spring Lake thaw?
- Spring Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 30. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 245 days.
Explore Spring Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
149 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA149 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity, Probe 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate