Mooney Lake

Mooney Lake is a landlocked, 117-acre lake. Like one-third of the 11,000+ lakes found in Minnesota, it’s classified as a “shallow lake” with an average maximum depth of 11 feet. A Hennepin County plat book from 1898 shows six families made homesteads on Mooney Lake. One family’s last name was Mooney; the lake was commonly called “Mooney’s Lake.”

The “Big Woods,” composed of maple, oak, and basswood trees, once surrounded the lake. However, much of it was cleared by early settlers for farming and income from lumber. Once used for maple syrup production by the Mooney and Striebel families, the original “Big Woods” still stands on the southwest corner of Mooney Lake.

Letters from 1915 describe excellent walleye fishing in the clear waters of Mooney Lake.

Lake residents formed the Mooney Lake Association (MLA) in 1991 out of concern for decreasing water quality and heavy algae growth in the lake. In 2008, under the guidance of consultants, the MLA developed a lake management plan to identify strategies to improve the lake’s environment. 2010 the MLA received non-profit status, allowing the association to apply for grants to support restoration projects. The MLA's mission and overall objective is to protect the beauty, recreation, and broad ecosystem of Mooney Lake.

Source Mooney Lake Association®

Homes on the lake are located in the Orono and Wayzata School Districts.

Lake Information

DNR Lake ID: 27013400
County: Hennepin
Near: Medina
Border Water: No
Sentinel Lake: No

Size and Depth
Area: 123.79 acres
Littoral Area: 123.79 acres
Shore Length: 2.94 miles
Maximum Depth: 10 feet

Fish Species: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, northern pike, yellow perch, common carp, golden shine.

Boating access:
No public boating access is available on Mooney Lake.