Spring Lake
Spring Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 64.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 591.85 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 592 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 31
- Open water
- 245 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Spring Lake →
Next lake in Scott County
Spring Lake is a 592-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Scott County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Scott County, Spring Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-10. 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 6.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 64.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 14.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 64.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Spring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spring Lake in Scott 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 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 68°F) and coldest in Apr (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,386 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spring Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Surface Area | 592 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 49% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Spring LakePublic
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
19 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-03 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 44.64 | — |
| Black Crappie | 29.44 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 27.29 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluegill | 25.77 | 0.2 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 16.18 | 0.77 lb |
| JND | 10.97 | — |
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.
Bluntnose Minnow
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2025-09-03 survey
Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Spring Lake on September 3rd 2025, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 36 survey sites evenly spaced 200 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Spring Lake. 3 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
- —Fish Stocking History — SpringFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SpringPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.227 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +19.25 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +11.49 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (26 observations).
Estimated open water season: 245 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-17 (2012) | 2011-04-10 (2011) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-27 (2014) | 2015-12-28 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2017-03-21
EPA Impairment Status
Spring 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 MN70-0054-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Spring Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Prior Lake/Spring Lake Ferric Chloride WtpJordan · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MN0067377
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 #14 of 21 lakes in Scott County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Spring Lake holds Grade D. 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 Scott County
Frequently asked questions about Spring Lake
What is the water quality grade for Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake in Scott County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 64.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 591.85 acres.
Is Spring 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. Spring Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 14.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 1,386 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet. The lake covers 591.85 acres.
What fish are in Spring Lake?
- Fish species found in Spring Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Spring Lake is located in Scott County, Minnesota.
When does Spring Lake thaw?
- Spring Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 31. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 245 days.
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. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Spring Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Scott County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
403 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA403 samples · 2020–2025
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
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate