Crosby Lake
Ramsey County, MinnesotaEutrophic
Crosby Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
At a TSI of 64, Crosby Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake bottoms out at 19 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. Crosby Lake is small — 69 acres alongside 1.7 miles of shoreline — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Crosby Lake ranks 38 of 49 in Ramsey County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.
Crosby Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery is bass-led, with 11 documented species across the lake's records. No formal public access is documented at Crosby Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 6.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 161 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 161 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Average Depth | 3 ft |
| Surface Area | 69.3 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 68% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Crosby Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Crosby Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Crosby Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.03 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +1.75 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #38 of 49 lakes in Ramsey County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Crosby Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Crosby Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CrosbyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2024-10-02
Monitoring stations: 1