Gilfillan Lake
Gilfillan Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 47 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Mean depth
- ~12 ft est.
- 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 Gilfillan Lake →
Next lake in Ramsey County
Gilfillan Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 12 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Gilfillan Lake ranks #33 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 47 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 28.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 47 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 28.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Gilfillan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gilfillan 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 Gilfillan Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Gilfillan Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Gilfillan Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 39 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gilfillan Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Gilfillan Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Gilfillan Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.065 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.27 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Gilfillan 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 MN62-0027-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #33 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Gilfillan Lake holds Grade D. 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 Gilfillan Lake
What is the water quality grade for Gilfillan Lake?
- Gilfillan Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 47 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 28.5 µg/L.
Is Gilfillan 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. Gilfillan Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 28.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Gilfillan Lake?
- Gilfillan Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 39 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Gilfillan Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Gilfillan Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 12 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Gilfillan Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
135 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
MNPCA135 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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