History of Dutch Lake
Aerial view of Dutch Lake:
History of Dutch Lake
In the 1850's a large group of Germans settled near the shores of the lake. The lake was named after them; Deutsch Lake. Years later the lake was renamed Dutch Lake.
Fish in Dutch Lake
A 2009 DNR fishery census yields the following species of fish were netted in the lake: Black & Yellow Bullhead, Black Crappie, Sunfish (Bluegill, Hybrid & Pumpkinseed), Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, White Sucker, Bowfin (dogfish), Channel Catfish, & Common Carp. Click here to see more in the latest DNR Fisheries Lakes Survey of Dutch Lake!
In 2011 the DNR stocked Dutch Lake with 16 adult Bluegill sunfish.
History of Ice In & Ice Out Dates
The following are the ice in and ice out dates for Dutch Lake:
| YEAR | ICE IN | ICE OUT |
| 1986 | November 13 | April 7 |
| 1987 | December 11 | March 11 |
| 1988 | March 7 | |
| 1989 | March 17 | |
| 1990 | November 30 | April 1 |
| 1991 | November 4 | April 6 |
| 1992 | November 15 | April 6 |
| 1993 | November 26 | April 17 |
| 1994 | November 29 | April 8 |
| 1995 | March 13 or Apr 2? | |
| 1996 | November 11 | April 22 |
| 1997 | November 19 | April 15 |
| 1998 | December 20 | March 31 |
| 1999 | December 19 | March 31 |
| 2000 | November 23 | March 10 |
| 2001 | December 21 | April 16 |
| 2002 | December 2 | April 2 or 15? |
| 2003 | November 28 | |
| 2004 | December 6 or 18? | April 3 |
| 2005 | November 30 | April 7 |
| 2006 | December 3 | April 7 |
| 2007 | December 1 | March 29 |
| 2008 | November 21 | April 21 |
| 2009 | December 6 | April 7 |
| 2010 | April 1 | |
| 2011 | April 11 | |
| 2012 | December 11 | March 19 |
| 2013 | November 23 | March 29 |
| 2014 | November 14 | |
| 2015 | March 31 | |
| 2016 |
Water Quality
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) records show that the water level ranges betewen 939 and 940 feet above sea level. The average phosforous concentration is 0.06mg/liter and is steadily rising. The secchi depth is less than 1 meter during the summer months. MCWD concludes that the water quality is impaired. We are working with Minnesota Waters, MCWD, and the DNR to improve the water quality of Dutch Lake. Our president Wayde is also a volunteer water monitor for our lake, measuring the depth of clarity every week.
City of Mound
The Dakota Indians lived along the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, at Lake Calhoun and in Shakopee. They were never permanent settlers around th Lake Minnetonka area. They came to Lake Minnetonka to hunt and fish and to gather wild rice, roots, and berries. The Mound area was a sacred place to them, as they buried their dead under mounds and came to worship the Great Spirits. That is how Mound got it's name.
City of Minnetrista
Minnetrista is a combination of two Dakota Indian words: "Minne" meaning water, and "Trista" meaning crooked or twisted.