Ham Lake
Ham Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 154.63 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 155 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 3
Next lake in Anoka County
Ham Lake is a 155-acre mesotrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 22 feet (6-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, Ham Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.2 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ham Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ham Lake in Anoka 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.
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Water Temperature
Ham Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 254 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ham Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Average Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 155 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 77% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Ham LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ham 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-08-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 27.11 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 17.57 | 0.6 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 16.62 | 0.35 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 15.46 | 1.16 lb |
| Common Carp | 12.50 | 0.17 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.82 | 0.18 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 Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
From the 2016-08-15 survey
Ham Lake is a 168 acre, class 38 lake located in northern Anoka County, primarily managed for Largemouth Bass with Northern Pike as a secondary management species. There is a public access located in the city park on the south side of the lake, and a 2004 survey found angling pressure to be relatively high compared to…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ham Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HamFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HamPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.109 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.61 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.69 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (4 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1983-04-03 (1983) | 2005-04-04 (2005) |
| Ice-In | 2004-12-14 (2004) | 2004-12-14 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2005-04-04
EPA Impairment Status
Ham 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 MN02-0053-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Ham Lake holds Grade C. 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 Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about Ham Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ham Lake?
- Ham Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 154.63 acres.
Is Ham Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Ham Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Ham Lake?
- Ham Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 254 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Ham Lake?
- Ham Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet and an average depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 154.63 acres.
What fish are in Ham Lake?
- Fish species found in Ham Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead. Ham Lake is located in Anoka County, Minnesota.
When does Ham Lake thaw?
- Ham Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 3.
Are there boat ramps on Ham Lake?
- Ham Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ham Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Ham Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
140 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA140 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate