Charley Lake
Charley Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 37.08 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 37 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Charley Lake →
Next lake in Ramsey County
Charley Lake is a 37-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Charley Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Charley Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 59 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Charley Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Charley Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Charley Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Charley Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Charley Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 39 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Charley Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 37 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 84% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Charley Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1984-07-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 30.50 | 0.34 lb |
| Black Crappie | 8.33 | 0.34 lb |
| Bluegill | 8.22 | 0.31 lb |
| Walleye | 7.00 | 2 lb |
| Common Carp | 4.78 | 3.34 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.50 | 4.96 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1984-07-17 survey
White sucker, shorthead redhorse, carp, northern pike, walleye, white crappie, and black crappie were sampled at or above local median levels. Black, brown, and yellow bullheads, yellow perch, and bluegill were found at below local median levels. Shorthead redhorse probably entered Charley Lake with water pumped from…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Charley Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CharleyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.15 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.24 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.68 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Charley Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN62-0061-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.49 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Charley Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Charley Lake
What is the water quality grade for Charley Lake?
- Charley Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 59 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 37.08 acres.
Is Charley Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Charley Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Charley Lake?
- Charley Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 39 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Charley Lake?
- Charley Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 37.08 acres.
What fish are in Charley Lake?
- Fish species found in Charley Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), channel catfish, common carp, muskellunge, northern pike, redhorse, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, smallmouth buffalo, walleye, white bass, white crappie, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Charley Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
Explore Charley Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Ramsey County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Charley Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
134 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA134 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder