Ramsey County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 49 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Ramsey County's 49 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for Minnesota. The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. Ramsey County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Grass Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Ramsey County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Grass Lake, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (71)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Ramsey County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WakefieldFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WabassoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — West VadnaisFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TwinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TurtleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SuckerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SpringFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LongFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SnailFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SilverFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SilverFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PleasantFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Ramsey County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grass Lake | A | - | - | 13.4 µg/L |
| 2 | Otter Lake | B | 11.7 ft | 21 ft | 21.5 µg/L |
| 3 | Mccarron Lake | B | 11.5 ft | 57 ft | 29.5 µg/L |
| 4 | Snail Lake | B | 11 ft | 30 ft | 20 µg/L |
| 5 | Loeb Lake | B | 11.2 ft | 28 ft | 29 µg/L |
| 6 | Beam Pond | B | - | - | 20 µg/L |
| 7 | East Vadnais Lake | B | - | 58 ft | 22.5 µg/L |
| 8 | Turtle Lake | B | 7.5 ft | 28 ft | 22 µg/L |
| 9 | Phalen Lake | B | 9.8 ft | 91 ft | 29.5 µg/L |
| 10 | Wabasso Lake | B | 13 ft | 66 ft | 30 µg/L |
| 11 | Owasso Lake | B | 7.5 ft | 37 ft | 26 µg/L |
| 12 | Birch Lake | C | 5.9 ft | - | 21 µg/L |
| 13 | Round Lake | C | 8.2 ft | - | 49 µg/L |
| 14 | Twin Lake | C | 7.9 ft | 33 ft | 39 µg/L |
| 15 | Johanna Lake | C | 7.2 ft | 43 ft | 40 µg/L |
| 16 | Beaver Lake | C | 7.9 ft | 11 ft | 44 µg/L |
| 17 | Silver Lake | C | 7 ft | 18 ft | 56 µg/L |
| 18 | Gem Lake | C | 6.9 ft | - | 36 µg/L |
| 19 | Black Lake | C | 6.9 ft | - | 36 µg/L |
| 20 | Josephine Lake | C | 8.2 ft | 44 ft | 42 µg/L |
| 21 | Casey Lake | C | - | 3.5 ft | 30 µg/L |
| 22 | Charley Lake | C | 4.6 ft | 21 ft | 55 µg/L |
| 23 | Pleasant Lake | C | 5.6 ft | 58 ft | 50 µg/L |
| 24 | South Long Lake | C | 4.3 ft | 30 ft | 47 µg/L |
| 25 | Sucker Lake | C | 5.9 ft | 26 ft | 36 µg/L |
| 26 | Bald Eagle Lake | C | 5.9 ft | 36 ft | 33 µg/L |
| 27 | Wakefield Lake | C | 5.9 ft | 8 ft | 51 µg/L |
| 28 | Spring Lake | C | 3.6 ft | 18 ft | 58 µg/L |
| 29 | Gervais Lake | C | 6.2 ft | 41 ft | 38 µg/L |
| 30 | Keller Lake | C | 4.3 ft | 8 ft | 50 µg/L |
| 31 | Bennett Lake | D | 5.2 ft | 9 ft | 82 µg/L |
| 32 | Island Lake | D | 3.8 ft | - | 62 µg/L |
| 33 | Emily Lake | D | 3.7 ft | - | - |
| 34 | Evergreen Pnds Lake | D | 5.9 ft | 18 ft | - |
| 35 | Deep Lake | D | 3.9 ft | 11 ft | 72 µg/L |
| 36 | Gilfillan Lake | D | 3 ft | - | 48 µg/L |
| 37 | Silver Lake | D | 4 ft | 47 ft | 94.5 µg/L |
| 38 | Crosby Lake | D | 6.6 ft | 19 ft | 161 µg/L |
| 39 | Wilkinson Lake | D | 3.9 ft | - | 122 µg/L |
| 40 | Upper Lake | D | 5.9 ft | 19 ft | 264.5 µg/L |
| 41 | North Long Lake | F | 2.5 ft | - | 102 µg/L |
| 42 | Pike Lake | F | 2.3 ft | 16 ft | 125 µg/L |
| 43 | Unnamed Lake | F | 1 ft | - | 172.5 µg/L |
| 44 | Goose Lake | F | 0.7 ft | 6 ft | 165 µg/L |
| 45 | Como Lake | F | 2.5 ft | 15.5 ft | 95 µg/L |
| 46 | Vadnais Lake | F | 1 ft | 9 ft | 98.5 µg/L |
| 47 | Kohlman Lake | F | 3.3 ft | 9 ft | 94 µg/L |
| 48 | Turtle Lake | F | 3 ft | 28 ft | - |
| 49 | Silver Lake | F | 2 ft | 47 ft | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.