Jane Lake
Jane Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 158.09 acres.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 39 ft
- Area
- 158 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 9
- Open water
- 241 days
Next lake in Washington County
Jane Lake is a 158-acre mesotrophic lake in Washington County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 39 feet (13-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 74 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Jane Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Jane Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Jane Lake in Washington 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
Jane Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 226 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Jane Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 39 ft |
| Average Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 158 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 66% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake JanePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Jane 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
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-26 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 46.39 | 0.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 11.92 | 1.1 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 10.45 | 0.2 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.94 | 1.39 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 3.37 | 0.69 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.23 | 0.16 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
Largemouth Bass
Hybrid Sunfish
Northern Pike
From the 2019-06-26 survey
Jane Lake is a mesotrophic, class 24 lake that has a maximum depth of 39 feet. Surface acreage is 145 acres with 104 acres 15 ft. or less in depth. Largemouth Bass is the primary management species. A catch and release regulation for Largemouth has been in place since 1997. No stocking of fish has occurred in recent…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Jane Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — JaneFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — JanePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.155 m/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (11 observations).
Estimated open water season: 241 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-03-31 (2015) | 1979-04-19 (1979) |
| Ice-In | 2004-12-03 (2004) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-03-31
EPA Impairment Status
Jane 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 MN82-0104-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 75 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Jane Lake
What is the water quality grade for Jane Lake?
- Jane Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 158.09 acres.
Is Jane Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Jane Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Jane Lake?
- Jane Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 226 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Jane Lake?
- Jane Lake has a maximum depth of 39 feet and an average depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 158.09 acres.
What fish are in Jane Lake?
- Fish species found in Jane Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Jane Lake is located in Washington County, Minnesota.
When does Jane Lake thaw?
- Jane Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 9. Ice typically forms around Dec 6. The open water season is approximately 241 days.
Are there boat ramps on Jane Lake?
- Jane Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Jane. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Jane Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
257 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA257 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate