Zumbra-Sunny Lake
Carver County, Minnesota271 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Zumbra-Sunny Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 58 ft max depth
- Public access
Zumbra-Sunny Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 271.13 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 12, 2025 caught 12.33 northern pike per gill net at Zumbra-Sunny Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–28 inches. DNR survey details →
Zumbra-Sunny Lake is a 271-acre mesotrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 58 feet (14-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 37 other monitored lakes in Carver County, Zumbra-Sunny Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-01. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Zumbra-Sunny Lake covers about 270 acres in Carver County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is March 31, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Zumbra-Sunny Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Zumbra-Sunny Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water9.8 ft of visibility
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing14 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 31
- Deep water58 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
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. Zumbra-Sunny Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Zumbra-Sunny 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 Zumbra-Sunny Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Zumbra-Sunny Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus 27.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.1 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 9.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 27.6µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.1µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 48 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Zumbra-Sunny Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Zumbra-Sunny Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 54°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 55°F) and coldest in Jan (about 37°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (37°F) to its warmest (55°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,844 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Zumbra-Sunny Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 12, 2025 caught 12.33 northern pike per gill net at Zumbra-Sunny Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–28 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Zumbra-Sunny 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-12 (Standard Survey).
10 surveys on file · most recent 2025-06-12 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 146.67 | 6–13 in 2025-06-12 | 1.1 lb |
| Bluegill | 64.89 | 2–8 in 2025-06-12 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Crappie | 15.45 | 4–11 in 2025-06-12 | 0.22 lb |
| Northern Pike | 10.63 | 13–28 in 2025-06-12 | 2.43 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Northern Pike
From the 2025-06-12 survey
Zumbra Lake is located in Carver County, near the town of Victoria. It is 233 acres, with a maximum depth of 58 feet. Much of the shoreline of the lake is undeveloped and is managed by Three Rivers Park District, within Carver Park Reserve. MN DNR primarily manages Zumbra for its Northern Pike fishery, and secondarily…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Zumbra-Sunny Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Zumbra-SunnyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Zumbra-SunnyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
58 ft
Average depth
14 ft
Surface area
271 acres
Shoreline
5.8 mi
Littoral zone
33%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
11 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
935 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Carver County Park ReservePublic
- Lake Minnetonka, Regional ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Zumbra-Sunny Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Zumbra-Sunny 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Zumbra-Sunny Lake
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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 Zumbra-Sunny Lake
- → Zumbra-Sunny Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Zumbra-Sunny Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Zumbra-Sunny Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Zumbra-Sunny Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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
Worsening+8.55 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.49 µg/L/yr4 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 31
Earliest Mar 6, 2024 · Latest May 1, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 5
Earliest Nov 23, 2010 · Latest Dec 12, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Mar 30
2026
23 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Zumbra-Sunny Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN10-0041-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Carver County
Frequently asked questions about Zumbra-Sunny Lake
Where is Zumbra-Sunny Lake?
- Zumbra-Sunny 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 Zumbra-Sunny Lake?
- Zumbra-Sunny Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 271.13 acres.
Is Zumbra-Sunny Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Zumbra-Sunny Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Zumbra-Sunny Lake?
- Zumbra-Sunny Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October, from 1,844 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Zumbra-Sunny Lake?
- Zumbra-Sunny Lake has a maximum depth of 58 feet and an average depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 271.13 acres.
What fish are in Zumbra-Sunny Lake?
- Fish species found in Zumbra-Sunny Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Zumbra-Sunny Lake is located in Carver County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Zumbra-Sunny Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 12, 2025 caught 12.33 northern pike per gill net at Zumbra-Sunny Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–28 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Zumbra-Sunny 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 Zumbra-Sunny Lake thaw?
- Zumbra-Sunny Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 31. Ice typically forms around Dec 5. The open water season is approximately 249 days.
Are there boat ramps on Zumbra-Sunny Lake?
- Zumbra-Sunny Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Carver County Park Reserve, Lake Minnetonka, Regional Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Zumbra-Sunny Lake?
- Zumbra-Sunny Lake has 2 documented boat landings 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 Zumbra-Sunny Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
249 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA249 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 4500 N C ~ Persufate Method for Total Nitrogen
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