Jane Lake
Washington County, MinnesotaLimited DataOligotrophic
Jane Lake earns an A — every scored parameter (clarity) rates among the best monitored waters in Washington County.
A TSI value of 38 puts Jane Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. The lake bottoms out at 39 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. Jane Lake covers 158 acres alongside 2.0 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Among the 31 graded lakes in Washington County, Jane Lake ranks 5 — in the top quartile locally.
Zebra mussel presence at Jane Lake means the lake's clarity numbers carry an asterisk — filtered water is not the same as nutrient-poor water. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 11, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Jane Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Ice-out has been recorded 8 times at Jane Lake, with a median around Apr 9. 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 2024-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 39 ft |
| Average Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 158.09 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 66% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Jane Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Jane Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Jane Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.92 m/yr | 2 |
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
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 31 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Jane Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — JaneFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — JanePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
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
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
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-25
Monitoring stations: 1