Emily Lake
Emily Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Surface area: 12.99 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Area
- 13 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 3
- Open water
- 236 days
Next lake in Ramsey County
Why Emily Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Emily Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Emily Lake is a 13-acre lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Emily Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Emily Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Emily 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Emily Lake
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Water Temperature
Emily Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 21 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Emily Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 0.9 mi |
| Public Access | No |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Emily Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Emily Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2006-07-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 105.90 | 0.08 lb |
| Black Crappie | 20.90 | 0.09 lb |
| Bluegill | 12.60 | 0.07 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
Black Crappie
Bluegill
From the 2006-07-05 survey
There is no public access to Lake Emily. This assessment sampled three species (black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill). Black bullhead and black crappie were abundant. Black bullhead lengths ranged from 4.5 to 11.5 inches, with most fish between 5 and 6 inches. The largest black crappie sampled was 12 inches,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Emily Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — EmilyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.063 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.89 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.06 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (11 observations).
Estimated open water season: 236 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2025-03-24 (2025) | 2022-04-14 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-13 (2018) | 2017-12-08 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-24
EPA Impairment Status
Emily 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 MN62-0075-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.45 km)
Graded lakes near Emily Lake
Emily Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Emily Lake
What is the water quality grade for Emily Lake?
- Emily Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Surface area: 12.99 acres.
Is Emily Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Emily Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Emily Lake?
- Emily Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 21 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in Emily Lake?
- Fish species found in Emily Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill. Emily Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
When does Emily Lake thaw?
- Emily Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 3. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 236 days.
Explore Emily Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
77 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
MNPCA77 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate