Lake Calhoun (Bde Maka Ska)

Lake Calhoun (Bde Maka Ska)
Name	Lake Calhoun (Bde Maka Ska)
Location	Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States
Type	Natural freshwater lake
Inflow	Mississippi River (indirect via Minnehaha Creek), local runoff
Outflow	Minnehaha Creek
Basin countries	United States
Area	401 acres
Max-depth	83 ft
Cities	Minneapolis

Lake Calhoun (Bde Maka Ska) is an urban lake in Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota, within the Chain of Lakes (Minneapolis). Located near Downtown Minneapolis, the lake has been central to regional Minnesota history, recreation, and environmental management, intersecting with Indigenous communities, municipal agencies, and conservation organizations.

Naming and Etymology

The lake's Dakhóta name, Bde Maka Ska, connects to Dakota people language and is associated with historical figures such as Chief Little Crow and contemporary advocates like Traci Morris. The English name honored John C. Calhoun, who served as Vice President of the United States under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, and ties to 19th-century policies including the Indian Removal Act and debates involving leaders such as Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson. Renaming efforts drew support and opposition from civic bodies including the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and legal proceedings in Hennepin County District Court and the Minnesota Supreme Court. Federal and state entities involved include Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the National Park Service in contexts of historical interpretation and signage.

Geography and Physical Characteristics

Situated in the Mississippi River watershed, the lake lies near Bde Maka Ska–Harriet corridor and is connected hydrologically to Lake Harriet via Minnehaha Creek. The basin is framed by neighborhoods such as Uptown (Minneapolis), Wassermann, and proximate to institutions like University of Minnesota. Bathymetric surveys conducted by Hennepin County and researchers from University of Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State University document a maximum depth of about 83 feet and a variety of littoral zones studied by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and academic programs at Macalester College and Hamline University. Geologic history involves Glacial Lake Agassiz and Pleistocene glaciation events linked to features mapped by the United States Geological Survey and described in regional work by Joseph Nicollet and later cartographers.

Ecology and Environmental Issues

Bde Maka Ska supports aquatic plants monitored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and invasive species responses coordinated with groups including Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and nonprofit organizations like Friends of the Mississippi River. Species records list Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Northern pike, and waterfowl such as Mallard and Canada goose observed in surveys by National Audubon Society chapters and ornithologists at Bell Museum of Natural History. Environmental issues include eutrophication studied by researchers at University of Minnesota, nutrient loading linked to urban runoff regulated by Environmental Protection Agency frameworks and state policies influenced by legislators in the Minnesota Legislature. Invasive aquatic plants such as Eurasian watermilfoil and management responses by agencies like the Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council intersect with public health advisories from Hennepin County Public Health regarding harmful algal blooms addressed in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

History and Cultural Significance

The lake basin appears in accounts of early explorers including Zebulon Pike and Joseph Nicollet, and in Indigenous histories involving the Dakota and neighboring nations. Treaty-era negotiations such as the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux and leaders like Red Cloud and Wabasha contextualize regional land changes referenced in studies by the Minnesota Historical Society and historians like Robert S. Merritt. During the 19th and 20th centuries, urban development by figures associated with James J. Hill and civic planning involving the Olmsted Brothers shaped parkland policies handled by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and municipal leaders including various Minneapolis mayors. Cultural events around the lake have included gatherings tied to arts institutions like the Walker Art Center and music festivals in the Uptown (Minneapolis) area, and controversies over monuments and commemorations have involved advocacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and organizations representing Indigenous rights like the National Congress of American Indians.

Recreation and Facilities

The lake features amenities managed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board including a paved bicycle and pedestrian path linking to the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, boat rentals operated by local businesses, and rowing programs affiliated with Minneapolis Rowing Club and university clubs such as the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers rowing. Recreational fishing follows regulations set by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and tournaments coordinated through groups like the Minnesota Bass Association. Nearby cultural venues include Minneapolis Institute of Art and sporting facilities connected to Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium via transit operated by Metro Transit. Marina services and boathouses are sometimes used by organizations like Boy Scouts of America and high school teams from institutions such as Minneapolis South High School.

Management and Conservation Efforts

Management is a cooperative effort among the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Hennepin County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and advocacy organizations including Friends of Lake Bde Maka Ska and regional conservation nonprofits like The Trust for Public Land and Freshwater Society. Projects have included shoreline restoration funded through grants from the Clean Water Fund and technical support from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Scientific monitoring partnerships involve researchers from University of Minnesota, Hamline University, and consultants from firms such as Barr Engineering and Wenck Associates implementing lake management plans informed by methods endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency and international frameworks like the Ramsar Convention for wetland conservation dialogues. Legal and policy developments have engaged the Minnesota Supreme Court and municipal governance in shaping signage, historic recognition, and Indigenous consultation protocols involving entities like the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Category:Lakes of Minneapolis Category:Landforms of Hennepin County, Minnesota