About Sweeney Lake
Sweeney Lake, located in Golden Valley, is a recreation waterbody frequently used by residents for swimming, fishing, boating, and scenic viewing. A public access at the northern end of the lake offers a carry-in, non-motorized boat access and a City nature area on the southern end of the lake offers an overlook deck and canoe launch. The lake has a drainage area of nearly four square miles that includes areas of St. Louis Park and Golden Valley. Sweeney Lake receives outflows from the Ring Ponds, Cortlawn Pond, Schaper Pond, and Twin Lake and drains northeast into the Sweeney Lake Branch of Bassett Creek, which connects to the Bassett Creek Main Stem shortly downstream.
Sweeney Lake has an average depth of 12 feet and a maximum depth of 25 feet. Approximately half of the lake is shallow enough to support emergent or submerged vegetation growth. Although the aquatic invasive species Curlyleaf pondweed is present in Sweeney Lake, overall there is a healthy native plant community.
Water quality in the lake has been improving in the last several years due to a variety of actions and projects by the Sweeney Lake Association, BCWMC, City of Golden Valley, and other partners. Projects include:
• Schaper Pond Diversion Project in 2015 to improve the pond’s removal of phosphorus
• Turning off the lake aeration system in 2017which operated for about 40 years
• Removing carp from Sweeney Lake and Schaper Pond in 2020 to reduce internal phosphorus loading
• Performing alum treatments of Sweeney Lake during the fall of 2020 and fall of 2022 to reduce internal phosphorus loading
• Implementing more than 50 watershed best management practices since 1980 by the City of Golden Valley.
The lake was officially removed from the Minnesota list of impaired waters for excess nutrients in 2024. Additional information about the Sweeney Lake water quality improvement program is found here.
High chlorides in the lake (primarily salt from winter deicers) is an ongoing issue. Chloride concentrations in the lake have nearly doubled since 2017. High chlorides can negatively impact aquatic life.
Water Quality Data
Click thumbnails below to enlarge
Chlorophyll a
Water Clarity
Total Phosphorus
Reports
- October 2024 Presentation to Sweeney Lake Assoc
- June 2023 Presentation to Sweeney Lake Assoc
- 2023 Sweeney Lake Water Quality Report
- 2020 Sweeney Lake Water Quality Report
- 2017 Sweeney Lake Water Quality Report
- 2014 Lake Water Quality Study: Sweeney Lake and Twin Lake
- Trapnet Fish Surveys for Sweeney Lake and Twin Lake - September 2013
- 2009 Lake Water Quality Study: Sweeney Lake, Twin Lake, Northwood Lake, North Rice Pond, and South Rice Pond
- 2008 Lake Water Quality Study: Sweeney Lake and Twin Lake
- 2005 Lake Water Quality Study: Northwood Lake, Sweeney Lake, and Twin Lake
- 2000 and 2001 Water Quality Study: Crane Lake, Northwood Lake, South Rice Lake, Sweeney Lake, Parkers Lake, Westwood Lake, Wirth Lake, Medicine Lake, and Bassett Creek
- Sweeney Lake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Study
- Metropolitan Council's 2015 Study of Water Quality in 164 Metro Area Lakes (excerpted for BCWMC lakes)
Projects
Quick Facts
| BCWMC Classification | Priority 1 Deep Lake |
| Watershed Area (acres) | 2,397 |
| Lake Size (acres) | 67 |
| Average Depth (feet) | 12 |
| Maximum Depth (feet) | 25 |
| Ordinary High Water Level (feet) | 827.7 |
| Normal Water Level (feet) | 827.5 |
| Downstream Receiving Waterbody | Bassett Creek |
| Location (City) | Golden Valley |
| MPCA Impairments | Chloride |
| Aquatic Invasive Species | Curlyleaf pondweed |
| Public Access | Yes (non-motorzed boat launch) |
Sweeney Lake Aeration Study
Informational Meeting August 1, 2018
About Sweeney Lake
Sweeney Lake, located in Golden Valley, is a recreation waterbody frequently used by residents for swimming, fishing, boating, and scenic viewing. A public access at the northern end of the lake offers a carry-in, non-motorized boat access and a City nature area on the southern end of the lake offers an overlook deck and canoe launch. The lake has a drainage area of nearly four square miles that includes areas of St. Louis Park and Golden Valley. Sweeney Lake receives outflows from the Ring Ponds, Cortlawn Pond, Schaper Pond, and Twin Lake and drains northeast into the Sweeney Lake Branch of Bassett Creek, which connects to the Bassett Creek Main Stem shortly downstream.
Sweeney Lake has an average depth of 12 feet and a maximum depth of 25 feet. Approximately half of the lake is shallow enough to support emergent or submerged vegetation growth. Although the aquatic invasive species Curlyleaf pondweed is present in Sweeney Lake, overall there is a healthy native plant community.
Water quality in the lake has been improving in the last several years due to a variety of actions and projects by the Sweeney Lake Association, BCWMC, City of Golden Valley, and other partners. Projects include:
• Schaper Pond Diversion Project in 2015 to improve the pond’s removal of phosphorus
• Turning off the lake aeration system in 2017which operated for about 40 years
• Removing carp from Sweeney Lake and Schaper Pond in 2020 to reduce internal phosphorus loading
• Performing alum treatments of Sweeney Lake during the fall of 2020 and fall of 2022 to reduce internal phosphorus loading
• Implementing more than 50 watershed best management practices since 1980 by the City of Golden Valley.
The lake was officially removed from the Minnesota list of impaired waters for excess nutrients in 2024. Additional information about the Sweeney Lake water quality improvement program is found here.
High chlorides in the lake (primarily salt from winter deicers) is an ongoing issue. Chloride concentrations in the lake have nearly doubled since 2017. High chlorides can negatively impact aquatic life.
Quick Facts
| BCWMC Classification | Priority 1 Deep Lake |
| Watershed Area (acres) | 2,397 |
| Lake Size (acres) | 67 |
| Average Depth (feet) | 12 |
| Maximum Depth (feet) | 25 |
| Ordinary High Water Level (feet) | 827.7 |
| Normal Water Level (feet) | 827.5 |
| Downstream Receiving Waterbody | Bassett Creek |
| Location (City) | Golden Valley |
| MPCA Impairments | Chloride |
| Aquatic Invasive Species | Curlyleaf pondweed |
| Public Access | Yes (non-motorzed boat launch) |
Water Quality Data
Click thumbnails below to enlarge
Chlorophyll a
Water Clarity
Total Phosphorus
Reports
- October 2024 Presentation to Sweeney Lake Assoc
- June 2023 Presentation to Sweeney Lake Assoc
- 2023 Sweeney Lake Water Quality Report
- 2020 Sweeney Lake Water Quality Report
- 2017 Sweeney Lake Water Quality Report
- 2014 Lake Water Quality Study: Sweeney Lake and Twin Lake
- Trapnet Fish Surveys for Sweeney Lake and Twin Lake - September 2013
- 2009 Lake Water Quality Study: Sweeney Lake, Twin Lake, Northwood Lake, North Rice Pond, and South Rice Pond
- 2008 Lake Water Quality Study: Sweeney Lake and Twin Lake
- 2005 Lake Water Quality Study: Northwood Lake, Sweeney Lake, and Twin Lake
- 2000 and 2001 Water Quality Study: Crane Lake, Northwood Lake, South Rice Lake, Sweeney Lake, Parkers Lake, Westwood Lake, Wirth Lake, Medicine Lake, and Bassett Creek
- Sweeney Lake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Study
- Metropolitan Council's 2015 Study of Water Quality in 164 Metro Area Lakes (excerpted for BCWMC lakes)