Charley Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Charley Lake at a C: clarity at 4.6 ft, 55 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 59 signal an intermediate trophic state. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. Charley Lake reaches 21 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake is compact at 37 acres, with 1.1 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Among the 49 graded lakes in Ramsey County, Charley Lake sits at rank 22, above the county median.

Zebra mussels have been documented at Charley Lake, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. Charley Lake's fishery is anchored by muskellunge, with 20 documented species in total — a destination water for muskie anglers. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.