Spurzem Lake
Hennepin County, Minnesota82 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Spurzem Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 38 ft max depth
- Public access
Spurzem Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 17, 2019 caught 6.75 northern pike per gill net at Spurzem Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 18–33 inches. DNR survey details →
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). 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Spurzem Lake covers about 82 acres in Hennepin County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Spurzem Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Spurzem Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Deep water38 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Spurzem Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Spurzem Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Spurzem Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Spurzem Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 95.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 24.8 µg/L. TSI 64.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 95.8µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 24.8µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 64 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Spurzem Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Spurzem Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (37°F) to its warmest (59°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 17, 2019 caught 6.75 northern pike per gill net at Spurzem Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 18–33 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Spurzem Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-17 (Standard Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2019-06-17 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 23.63 | 6–8 in 2019-06-17 | 0.24 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 18.58 | 6–13 in 2019-06-17 | 0.66 lb |
| Black Crappie | 14.36 | 7–9 in 2019-06-17 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.59 | 5–6 in 2019-06-17 | 0.2 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.14 | 18–33 in 2019-06-17 | 3.91 lb |
| Bowfin | 3.46 | 19–22 in 2019-06-17 | 2.88 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
38 ft
Average depth
12 ft
Surface area
82 acres
Shoreline
1.8 mi
Littoral zone
45%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
945 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Baker Park ReservePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Spurzem Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Spurzem Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spurzem Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Improving-11.64 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable+0.17 µg/L/yr4 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
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.
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Spurzem Lake
Where is Spurzem Lake?
- Spurzem Lake is a lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Spurzem Lake?
- Spurzem Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Spurzem Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Spurzem Lake?
- Spurzem Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in October, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Spurzem Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 17, 2019 caught 6.75 northern pike per gill net at Spurzem Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 18–33 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Spurzem Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Spurzem Lake?
- Spurzem Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Spurzem Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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