This 74-acre lake is known for high water quality and recreational opportunities.
Tanners Lake is located almost entirely within the cities of Oakdale and Landfall. It discharges into Battle Creek Lake in Woodbury, which serves as the headwaters for Battle Creek, a tributary of the Mississippi River. Tanners Lake is used primarily for recreational uses such as swimming, skiing, and motor‑boating, as well as fishing, canoeing, picnicking, viewing and limited wildlife habitat. Tanners Lake Park, owned and operated by the City of Oakdale, is located on the east shore of the lake. The park includes a beach for swimming, as well as a boat access for fishing. Facilities are also present for sporting activities, including softball and volleyball.
Lake facts
| Tributary area | 1,707 acres |
| Downstream waterbody | Battle Creek Lake |
| DNR code | 82‑0115P (click for LakeFinder data) |
| Surface area | 74 acres |
| Average depth | 20 feet |
| Maximum depth | 46 feet |
| MPCA designations | Deep lake; impaired for mercury and chloride |
| Accountable municipalities | Landfall, Maplewood, Oakdale, Woodbury, Ramsey County, Washington County |
| Nutrient water quality classification | Stable |
Water quality
The following graphs show the growing season average measurements in Tanners Lake for chlorophyll-a, total phosphorus and secchi transparency. Tanners Lake is sampled for water quality parameters every two weeks from May through September. Tanners Lake was listed as impaired for excess nutrients in 2002. However, more recent water quality studies indicated the lake is meeting state standards, and it was removed from the impaired waters list in 2004.
The District currently operates an aluminum sulfate (alum) treatment facility on the north end of Tanners Lake that treats a significant portion of watershed runoff before it enters the lake. Alum is injected into the stormwater runoff, which causes phosphorus to precipitate out and settle into a sedimentation pond.
Past projects
Notable District water quality improvement projects in the watershed include:
Tanners Lake Alum Treatment Facility
Tanners Lake Tartan High School Pond
More information
You can find detailed information on Tanners Lake and its tributary area in our watershed management plan.