Wing Lake
Hennepin County, MinnesotaEutrophic
Wing Lake grades an F: every scored parameter (clarity and phosphorus) rates poorly, placing it among the most stressed lakes monitored in Minnesota. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Within Hennepin County's 95 graded lakes, Wing Lake ranks 64 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.
Wing Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2020, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Wing Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 120 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 70.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 120 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #64 of 95 lakes in Hennepin County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Wing Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CRound LakeHennepin County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CBryant LakeHennepin County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CDuck LakeHennepin County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CSilver LakeHennepin County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CLotus LakeCarver County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Wing Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
EPA Impairment Status
Wing 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 MN27-0091-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2020-09-09
Monitoring stations: 1