Island Lake
Ramsey County, MinnesotaEutrophic
On the scoring rubric Island Lake grades a D: clarity at 3.8 ft and 62 µg/L of phosphorus keep it in the lower bracket for Ramsey County. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
At a TSI of 61, Island Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Island Lake sits at rank 32 of 49 in Ramsey County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Island Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Island Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. A documented public access point at Island Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Track Island Lake
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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 3.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 62 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.8 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 62 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.06 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.4 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #32 of 49 lakes in Ramsey County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Island Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BSnail LakeRamsey County · mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BWabasso LakeRamsey County · mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BOwasso LakeRamsey County · mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CJosephine LakeRamsey County · mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CJohanna LakeRamsey County · mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Island Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Island Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Public Water Access Sites — Island (Basin S.of I-694)Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Island 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 (0.23 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
Most recent sample: 2024-09-16
Monitoring stations: 2