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Welcome to Lake Independence!

Lake Independence is a beautiful recreational lake in Western Hennepin County, Minnesota. The lake is 844 acres in size and about 58 feet at its deepest. 

 

Adorning its shores are 104 residential properties, Three Rivers Parks Baker Park Reserve, Vinland Center, and YMCA Camp Iduhapi. The lake has 5.8 miles of shoreline and two islands on the northwest side of the lake. 

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Discovery of Lake Independence

“On July 4, 1854, James and Frank Maxwell, Asa Kelly and Kelsey Hinman, settlers near Maxwell Bay, set out on an exploring tour. They soon came across an Indian trail which they followed in a northwesterly direction. Shortly they ran across an Indian canoe on the dry land. This could only mean that water was nearby. Very soon the trail led them to a large silvery sheet of water which they named Lake Independence in honor of the day on which they had discovered it. On the shore of the lake they found an abandoned Winnebago hut. On the south shore, where the land was marshy, was the outlet of the lake. Here was a stream which they named Pioneer Creek. At one point they found rapids, which later became a source of water power.”

Lake Independence map.jpg

Excerpt from “History, 1868-1968, Maple Plain and Independence”, written by members of the Maple Plain Garden Club and published in 1968. The contents can now be found on the City of Maple Plain’s website, www.mapleplain.com, under History.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Justin Cox

About LICA

Mission Statement

The Lake Independence Citizens Association, through education, advocacy and community involvement, is dedicated to the protection of Lake Independence’s water quality, natural beauty, fish and wildlife habitat, and to encourage the lake’s responsible use and enjoyment by all. 

 

How does LICA communicate this mission?

  • Most of our functions are intended to facilitate communications between LICA members and the various government and organization stakeholders, and to make the general public aware of lake-related issues.

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  • We keep LICA members informed via emails, our website, our annual newsletter, our Facebook page and our Annual Members Meeting.

 

  • We are a central resource for information about projects undertaken by Medina and Independence public works departments, Three Rivers Parks, Hennepin County, the MN Dept of Natural Resources and other stakeholders.

LICA Bylaws

A PDF of LICA's Bylaws, revised in 2021, is available HERE.

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