Zumbra-Sunny Lake
Zumbra-Sunny Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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.
- Clarity
- 9.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 55°F
- Max depth
- 58 ft
- Area
- 271 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 31
- Open water
- 249 days
Next lake in Carver County
Zumbra-Sunny Lake is a 271-acre mesotrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 58 feet (14-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2024. 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. 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 9.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 27.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 27.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Water Temperature
Zumbra-Sunny Lake typically sits around 55°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 58 ft |
| Average Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 271 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 33% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Carver County Park ReservePublic
- Lake Minnetonka, Regional ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Zumbra-Sunny 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 146.67 | 1.1 lb |
| Bluegill | 64.89 | 0.11 lb |
| SFS | 21.69 | — |
| Black Crappie | 15.45 | 0.22 lb |
| Northern Pike | 10.63 | 2.43 lb |
| CNM | 7.04 | — |
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.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.071 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +8.55 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.49 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (23 observations).
Estimated open water season: 249 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-06 (2024) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2010-11-23 (2010) | 2024-12-12 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-30
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN10-0041-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 38 lakes in Carver County
Nearby Lakes in Carver County
Frequently asked questions about Zumbra-Sunny Lake
What is the water quality grade for Zumbra-Sunny Lake?
- Zumbra-Sunny Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Zumbra-Sunny Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Zumbra-Sunny Lake?
- Zumbra-Sunny Lake typically sits around 55°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Zumbra-Sunny Lake across LakeGrade
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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)
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