Lotus Lake

Located in eastern Chanhassen, Lotus Lake is one of three headwaters of Purgatory Creek. Water flows out of Lotus into the south fork of Purgatory Creek, which eventually meets up with the two other forks of the creek.

Lotus Lake is classified as a “Deep Lake” by the MPCA. To be considered healthy, the lake must have very low average phosphorus and chlorophyll-a levels and an average water clarity of 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) or greater.

From June through September every year, District staff visit this and other lakes every two weeks to collect water samples and take readings. Samples are sent to a laboratory to be tested for nutrients and other compounds. Staff also measure water clarity by lowering a Secchi disk into the water and measuring how deep it goes before it is no longer visible. The data indicates the lake’s health based on standards set by the MPCA.

Lotus Lake - Water Quality Grade

Lake WQ Grade C.png RPBCWD staff assigned this letter grade to the lake based upon how well it is meeting water quality goals. Learn more about lake water quality grades.

For more information about the water quality and grades for lakes monitored in the District, visit the lake factsheets page.

Lake Factsheet

Lotus Lake Factsheet

Several water quality parameters are monitored for the lake including Total Phosphorus, Chlorophyll-a, and water clarity. The results are compared to standards set by the MPCA. The District also collects data about native aquatic plant populations and invasive species. Learn more in the lake factsheet.

Open Factsheet

Watershed Location

Lake and Watershed Characteristics

Size	248 acres
Volume	2,500 acre-feet
Average depth	16 feet
Max depth	31 feet
Watershed size	1,048 acres
Land draining directly into	316 acres
MPCA lake classification	Deep
Impairment listing	Mercury, nutrients, fish
Trophic status	Hypereutrophic
Common fish	Bluegill, Yellow Bullhead, Walleye, Black Crappie
Invasive species	Eurasian Watermilfoil, Common Carp, Curlyleaf Pondweed, Brittle Naiad

For more information about waterbody impairments, visit the Minnesota's Impaired Waters List webpage managed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Related Projects

Lotus Lake Water Quality Improvement Project

This project will reduce the phosphorus loading and improve the water quality of Lotus Lake.