Sunfish Lake
Sunfish Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 9.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Mean depth
- ~12 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
- Open water
- 239 days
Next lake in Dakota County
Sunfish Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 12 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Sunfish Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Sunfish Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sunfish 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.
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Water Temperature
Sunfish Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in Feb (about 39°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 76 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sunfish Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Sunfish Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Sunfish 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.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.325 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.75 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (24 observations).
Estimated open water season: 239 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-07 (2024) | 2018-05-11 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-15 (2014) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-07
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Sunfish Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sunfish Lake?
- Sunfish Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L.
Is Sunfish Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Sunfish Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sunfish Lake?
- Sunfish Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 76 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sunfish Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Sunfish Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 12 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
When does Sunfish Lake thaw?
- Sunfish Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 239 days.
Explore Sunfish Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
84 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
MNPCA84 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate