Tanager Lake
Tanager Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 82 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 54.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 53.48 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 53 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Tanager Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Tanager Lake is a 53-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Tanager Lake ranks #76 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 82 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 54.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 82 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 54.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Tanager Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tanager 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Tanager Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Tanager 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
Tanager Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 72°F) and coldest in Apr (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 383 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Tanager Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 53 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 71% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Tanager 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
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1977-07-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 52.75 | 0.18 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 31.25 | 0.58 lb |
| Black Crappie | 27.25 | 0.31 lb |
| Common Carp | 4.75 | 4.31 lb |
| GOS | 2.00 | 0.15 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.75 | 3.25 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1977-07-28 survey
See report for all of Lower Lake and Appendix XVII
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Tanager Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TanagerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.015 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +8.76 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +1.01 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Tanager 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 MN27-0141-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #76 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Tanager 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 Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Tanager Lake
What is the water quality grade for Tanager Lake?
- Tanager Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 82 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 54.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 53.48 acres.
Is Tanager 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. Tanager Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 54.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Tanager Lake?
- Tanager Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 383 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Tanager Lake?
- Tanager Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 53.48 acres.
Explore Tanager Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
114 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
MNPCA114 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