Big Carnelian Lake vs White Bear Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
White Bear Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Big Carnelian Lake (B, Good). Both are in Washington County, Minnesota.
B
Big Carnelian Lake
Washington County, Minnesota
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft.
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 | B (Good) | A (Excellent) |
| Water Clarity | 14.5 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
White Bear Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Big Carnelian Lake's Grade B. Water clarity: 15 ft vs 14.5 ft. For fishing diversity, White Bear Lake also leads with 18 species.