Swede Lake
Carver County, Minnesota433 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Swede Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 12 ft max depth
- Public access
Swede Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 9, 2021 caught 1.00 northern pike per gill net at Swede Lake. DNR survey details →
Swede Lake is a 433-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swede Lake covers about 430 acres in Carver County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is March 30, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Swede Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Swede Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing9 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 30
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. Swede Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Swede 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 Swede Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Swede 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 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 134 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 76.9 µg/L. TSI 72.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 134µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 76.9µg/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. | 72 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Swede Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Swede Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (35°F) to its warmest (77°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 9, 2021 caught 1.00 northern pike per gill net at Swede Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Swede Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-09 (Standard Survey).
4 surveys on file · most recent 2021-08-09 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 85.49 | 5–14 in 2021-08-09 | 0.41 lb |
| Black Crappie | 83.57 | 3–12 in 2021-08-09 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 25.74 | 3–8 in 2021-08-09 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 21.66 | 5–10 in 2021-08-09 | 0.2 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 20.71 | 4–7 in 2021-08-09 | 0.12 lb |
| Golden Shiner | 12.02 | 5–7 in 2021-08-09 | 0.08 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.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
12 ft
Surface area
433 acres
Shoreline
3.7 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
3 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
955 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Swede LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Swede Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Swede 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 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Stable+1.3 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+2.61 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 30
Earliest Mar 3, 2024 · Latest May 1, 2018
Typical ice-in
Nov 27
Earliest Nov 12, 1996 · Latest Dec 20, 1998
Most recent ice-out
Mar 27
2026
52 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN10-0095-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Carver County
Frequently asked questions about Swede Lake
Where is Swede Lake?
- Swede Lake is a lake in Carver County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Swede Lake?
- Swede Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Swede Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Swede Lake?
- Swede Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Swede Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 9, 2021 caught 1.00 northern pike per gill net at Swede Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Swede Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Swede Lake?
- Swede 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 Swede Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other 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)
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
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