Waconia Lake
Waconia Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 3080.35 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 3,080 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 10
- Open water
- 235 days
Next lake in Carver County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Waconia Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 35 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Waconia Lake is a 3,080-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 37 other monitored lakes in Carver County, Waconia Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Waconia Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Waconia 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.
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Water Temperature
Waconia Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in Feb (about 36°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,248 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Waconia Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Surface Area | 3,080 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 10.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 54% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake Waconia (East)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Waconia 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
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-04 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 27.47 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.90 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Crappie | 8.70 | 0.24 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 5.72 | 2.57 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.96 | 0.16 lb |
| Walleye | 3.48 | 2.09 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
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
Freshwater Drum
From the 2025-08-04 survey
Lake Waconia is 3080-acres (1660 littoral acres) with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Lake Waconia is located north of the City of Waconia in central Carver County. Waconia is primarily managed for Walleye (special regulation: 16 inch minimum length) and Muskellunge. Walleye are fingerling-stocked at 1 pound per littoral…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Waconia Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WaconiaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WaconiaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WaconiaPublic 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 | -0.09 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.96 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.9 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (209 observations).
Estimated open water season: 235 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-07 (2017) | 2018-05-04 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-07 (1991) | 2020-12-24 (2020) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-31
EPA Impairment Status
Waconia 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 MN10-0059-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 38 lakes in Carver County
Nearby Lakes in Carver County
Frequently asked questions about Waconia Lake
What is the water quality grade for Waconia Lake?
- Waconia Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 3080.35 acres.
Is Waconia Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Waconia Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Waconia Lake?
- Waconia Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 1,248 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Waconia Lake?
- Waconia Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet. The lake covers 3080.35 acres.
What fish are in Waconia Lake?
- Fish species found in Waconia Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Waconia Lake is located in Carver County, Minnesota.
When does Waconia Lake thaw?
- Waconia Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 10. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 235 days.
Are there boat ramps on Waconia Lake?
- Waconia Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Waconia (East). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Waconia 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
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
234 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
MNPCA234 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate