Como Lake
Como Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 42.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15.5 ft. Surface area: 71.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 15.5 ft
- Area
- 71 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Mar 28
- Open water
- 253 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Como Lake →
Next lake in Ramsey County
Como Lake is a 71-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Como Lake ranks #43 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-11-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria C
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Como Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 8.1% of 62 samples across 2 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Minnesota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 42.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 96 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 42.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Como Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Como 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 Como Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Como Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Como Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Mar (about 42°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,023 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Como Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 71 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 96% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Como 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.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-13 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 67.59 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 45.04 | 0.18 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 30.09 | 0.43 lb |
| GOS | 20.38 | 0.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 11.00 | 0.62 lb |
| GOF | 9.03 | 0.43 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Black Bullhead
GOS
From the 2024-06-13 survey
Como Lake is a shallow, 70 acre lake located in a highly developed urban watershed in the City of Saint Paul. Como Lake receives direct runoff from 22 storm sewers and water quality is generally very poor. The entire lake is encompassed by Como Park, a regional park managed by Saint Paul Parks and Recreation. A…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Como Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ComoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ComoFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.171 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +5.67 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.47 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (11 observations).
Estimated open water season: 253 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2013-04-28 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2024-12-03 (2024) | 2021-12-16 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-03
EPA Impairment Status
Como Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN62-0055-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Como Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Westrock Mn CorpSaint Paul · 3 mi away · NPDES MN0048984Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #43 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Como Lake holds Grade F. 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 Como Lake
What is the water quality grade for Como Lake?
- Como Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 42.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15.5 ft. Surface area: 71.3 acres.
Is Como Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Como Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 8.1% of 62 samples across 2 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of C — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Como Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Minnesota's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Como Lake?
- Como Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 1,023 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Como Lake?
- Como Lake has a maximum depth of 15.5 feet. The lake covers 71.3 acres.
What fish are in Como Lake?
- Fish species found in Como Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Como Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
When does Como Lake thaw?
- Como Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 28. Ice typically forms around Dec 6. The open water season is approximately 253 days.
Explore Como Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
1,741 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1,741 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate