Twin Lake
Twin Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 80.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 217.41 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 44 ft
- Area
- 217 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 28
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Twin Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Twin Lake is a 217-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 44 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Twin Lake ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-24. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 5.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 80.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 23.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 80.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 23.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Twin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Twin 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 Twin Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Twin 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
Twin Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 65°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 256 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Twin Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 44 ft |
| Surface Area | 217 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 79% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Twin 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: 2018-06-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 40.41 | 0.18 lb |
| Black Crappie | 25.25 | 0.15 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 17.83 | 0.37 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 12.73 | 0.1 lb |
| Common Carp | 5.56 | 2.81 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.49 | 2.5 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.
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2018-06-11 survey
Twin Lake is a 217-acre lake in Hennepin County. Twin Lake consists of three distinct basins that are connected by navigable channels. Although this survey treats the lake as one waterbody, the three basins are different from one another. The south and middle basins have less algae and vegetation, with maximum depths…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Twin Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TwinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — TwinFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — TwinPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.49 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +15.75 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +9.95 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-03-24 (2021) | 2014-04-27 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 2011-12-01 (2011) | 2011-12-01 (2011) |
Most recent ice-out: 2021-03-24
EPA Impairment Status
Twin Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0042-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.49 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Twin Lake holds Grade D. 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 Twin Lake
What is the water quality grade for Twin Lake?
- Twin Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 80.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 217.41 acres.
Is Twin Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Twin Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 23.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Twin Lake?
- Twin Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 256 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Twin Lake?
- Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake covers 217.41 acres.
What fish are in Twin Lake?
- Fish species found in Twin Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Twin Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Twin Lake thaw?
- Twin Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 28.
Explore Twin 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 Hennepin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
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 Twin Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
289 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA289 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 (2)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate