Susan Lake
Susan Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 80.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 49 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 88.34 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 88 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Susan Lake →
Next lake in Carver County
Susan Lake is a 88-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 37 other monitored lakes in Carver County, Susan Lake ranks #33 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Susan Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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)
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 80.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 49 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 80.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 49 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Susan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Susan Lake in Carver 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 Susan Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Susan 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
Susan Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°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 465 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Susan Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 88 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 85% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- City ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Susan 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
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-07-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 66.32 | 0.45 lb |
| Black Crappie | 9.64 | 0.28 lb |
| Bluegill | 8.01 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.16 | 0.59 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.98 | 2.46 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 4.50 | 0.08 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.
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
From the 2019-07-29 survey
Susan is an 88-acre lake located in the city of Chanhassen, Carver County. A public city-owned boat launch is on the northwest corner of the lake within Lake Susan Park. A fishing pier is adjacent to the boat ramp, and a bike path along the north and west shores provides shore fishing opportunities. Maximum depth is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Susan Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SusanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SusanPublic 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 | +0.034 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.31 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.77 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Susan 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 MN10-0013-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #33 of 38 lakes in Carver County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Susan 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 Carver County
Frequently asked questions about Susan Lake
What is the water quality grade for Susan Lake?
- Susan Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 80.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 49 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 88.34 acres.
Is Susan 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. Susan Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 49 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Susan Lake?
- Susan Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 465 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Susan Lake?
- Susan Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 88.34 acres.
What fish are in Susan Lake?
- Fish species found in Susan Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Susan Lake is located in Carver County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Susan Lake?
- Susan Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include City Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Susan Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Carver 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
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Susan Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
278 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA278 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory