Spurzem Lake
Spurzem Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 95.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 81.88 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 59°F
- Max depth
- 38 ft
- Area
- 82 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Spurzem Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Spurzem Lake is a 82-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 38 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Spurzem Lake ranks #42 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 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.
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)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 95.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 24.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 95.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Spurzem Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spurzem 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 Spurzem Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Spurzem Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Spurzem Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 57°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 59°F) and coldest in Jan (about 37°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,413 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spurzem Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 38 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 82 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Baker Park ReservePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spurzem Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 23.63 | 0.24 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 18.58 | 0.66 lb |
| Black Crappie | 14.36 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.59 | 0.2 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.14 | 3.91 lb |
| Bowfin | 3.46 | 2.88 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.
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2019-06-17 survey
Spurzem Lake is 82-acres, with a maximum depth of 38 feet. Spurzem is located in the Baker Park Reserve (Three Rivers Park District) in western Hennepin County. Three Rivers Park District owns and maintains a public access ramp (subject to Three Rivers Park District rules and hours) located off of Hamel Road on the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Spurzem Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SpurzemFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SpurzemPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.099 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -11.64 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.17 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Spurzem 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 MN27-0149-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Spurzem Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Loretto WwtpLoretto · 1.2 mi away · NPDES MN0023990
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 #42 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Spurzem Lake
What is the water quality grade for Spurzem Lake?
- Spurzem Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 95.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 81.88 acres.
Is Spurzem 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. Spurzem Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 24.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Spurzem Lake?
- Spurzem Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August, from 1,413 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Spurzem Lake?
- Spurzem Lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 81.88 acres.
What fish are in Spurzem Lake?
- Fish species found in Spurzem Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Spurzem Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Spurzem Lake?
- Spurzem Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Baker Park Reserve. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Spurzem Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
285 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA285 samples · 2020–2024
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory