Big Carnelian Lake vs White Bear Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Big Carnelian Lake and White Bear Lake both received the same overall water quality grade of A (Excellent). Both are in Washington County, Minnesota.
A
Big Carnelian Lake
Washington County, Minnesota
Crystal clear, you can see 46.8 ft down.
A
White Bear Lake
Washington County, Minnesota
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Big Carnelian Lake | White Bear Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | A (Excellent) |
| Water Clarity | 46.8 ft | 15 ft |
| Phosphorus | No data | 15 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 66 ft | 83 ft |
| Surface Area | 457.03 acres | 2.4K acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 12 | 18 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Both lakes earn the same Grade A. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Big Carnelian Lake: 46.8 ft, White Bear Lake: 15 ft) and what you want from the lake. Big Carnelian Lake has fewer fish species than White Bear Lake.