Swede Lake
Swede Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 134 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 76.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 432.83 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 433 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 30
- Open water
- 242 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Swede Lake →
Next lake in Carver County
Swede Lake is a 433-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 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, Swede Lake ranks #34 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Swede 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 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 134 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 76.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 72.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 134 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 76.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 72 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Swede Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Swede 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 Swede Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Swede 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
Swede Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Mar (about 35°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 277 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Swede Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 433 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Swede LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Swede 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
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 85.49 | 0.41 lb |
| Black Crappie | 83.57 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 25.74 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 21.66 | 0.2 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 20.71 | 0.12 lb |
| GOS | 12.02 | 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 Perch
From the 2021-08-09 survey
Swede Lake is 432-acres (432 littoral acres), with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Swede is located southeast of Watertown in northwestern Carver County. Public water access is provided by DNR Parks and Trails on the northeast side of the lake off of County road 10 and Swede Lake road (up to 5 vehicle/trailer parking…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Swede Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SwedeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SwedePublic 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 | -0.151 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +1.3 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.61 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (52 observations).
Estimated open water season: 242 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 1996-11-12 (1996) | 1998-12-20 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-27
EPA Impairment Status
Swede 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 MN10-0095-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #34 of 38 lakes in Carver County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Swede 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 Swede Lake
What is the water quality grade for Swede Lake?
- Swede Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 134 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 76.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 432.83 acres.
Is Swede 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. Swede Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 76.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Swede Lake?
- Swede Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 277 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Swede Lake?
- Swede Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 432.83 acres.
What fish are in Swede Lake?
- Fish species found in Swede Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch. Swede Lake is located in Carver County, Minnesota.
When does Swede Lake thaw?
- Swede Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 30. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 242 days.
Are there boat ramps on Swede Lake?
- Swede Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Swede Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Swede 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 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
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Swede Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Swede Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
167 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
MNPCA167 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate