Crosby Lake
Crosby Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 133.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 69.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 69 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Crosby Lake →
Next lake in Ramsey County
Crosby Lake is a 69-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 19 feet (3-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Crosby Lake ranks #25 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 6.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 133.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 133.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Crosby Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crosby 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 Crosby Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Crosby 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
Crosby Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 67°F) and coldest in Mar (about 43°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 555 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Average Depth | 3 ft |
| Surface Area | 69 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 68% |
| 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 Crosby Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2014-06-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 23.40 | 0.33 lb |
| Bluegill | 16.98 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.02 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.38 | 0.43 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.72 | 1.76 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.69 | 0.09 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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
From the 2014-06-23 survey
Crosby Lake lies in the Mississippi River floodplain and is occasionally flooded by the river during high water periods. The surrounding property is a City of Saint Paul park (Crosby Farm Park). Shorefishing is available at many locations and carry-in access is also available (electric motor only). Summertime…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Crosby Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CrosbyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.053 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.74 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.19 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Crosby 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 MN19-0079-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.69 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #25 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Crosby Lake holds Grade D. 2 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 Crosby Lake
What is the water quality grade for Crosby Lake?
- Crosby Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 133.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 69.3 acres.
Is Crosby 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. Crosby Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Crosby Lake?
- Crosby Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 555 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Crosby Lake?
- Crosby Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet and an average depth of 3 feet. The lake covers 69.3 acres.
What fish are in Crosby Lake?
- Fish species found in Crosby Lake include black bullhead, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white crappie, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Crosby Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
Explore Crosby Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
636 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
MNPCA636 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 (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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder