Kohlman Lake
Ramsey County, Minnesota84 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Kohlman Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Salinity / chlorides
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 9 ft max depth
Kohlman Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 84.11 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 8, 2005 caught 0.83 walleye per trap net at Kohlman Lake. DNR survey details →
Kohlman Lake is a 84-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Kohlman Lake ranks #30 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Kohlman Lake covers about 84 acres in Ramsey County. The median ice-out date is April 1, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Kohlman Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Kohlman Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing11 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 1
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyAlgae risk
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Kohlman Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for salinity / chlorides. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Kohlman Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Kohlman Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Kohlman Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 24 µg/L. TSI 63.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 96µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 24µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 63 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Kohlman Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Kohlman Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Jan (about 36°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (36°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 564 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Kohlman Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 8, 2005 caught 0.83 walleye per trap net at Kohlman Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Kohlman Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2005-08-08 (Standard Survey).
5 surveys on file · most recent 2005-08-08 (Standard Survey)
21 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 47.81 | 1–7 in 2005-08-08 | 0.15 lb |
| Black Crappie | 10.93 | 4–8 in 2005-08-08 | 0.18 lb |
| White Crappie | 6.18 | 8 in 1995-08-10 | 0.24 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 3.03 | 10–12 in 2005-08-08 | 0.65 lb |
| Common Carp | 1.87 | 22–27 in 2005-08-08 | 4.69 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 1.53 | 2–19 in 2005-08-08 | 0.75 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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 Crappie
White Crappie
Black Bullhead
From the 2005-08-08 survey
No active fish management is conducted on Kohlman Lake due to the lack of a public access. The lake is connected to Gervais Lake by a navigable channel with no barriers to fish movement. Although the sample size was small, Walleye were captured above the median level for abundance. Three of the Walleyes captured were…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Kohlman Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — KohlmanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
9 ft
Surface area
84 acres
Shoreline
1.8 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
No
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
13 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
846 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Kohlman Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kohlman 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Kohlman Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Kohlman Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kohlman 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-1.41 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+2.19 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 1
Earliest Mar 3, 2024 · Latest Apr 28, 2018
Typical ice-in
Nov 29
Earliest Nov 8, 2019 · Latest Dec 28, 2023
Most recent ice-out
Mar 28
2026
39 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Kohlman Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN62-0006-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Kohlman Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Hb Fuller Co-Willow LakeVadnais Heights · 0.7 mi away · NPDES MN0051811
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Kohlman Lake
Where is Kohlman Lake?
- Kohlman Lake is a lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Kohlman Lake?
- Kohlman Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 84.11 acres.
Is Kohlman Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Kohlman Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for salinity / chlorides. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Kohlman Lake?
- Kohlman Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October, from 564 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Kohlman Lake?
- Kohlman Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 84.11 acres.
What fish are in Kohlman Lake?
- Fish species found in Kohlman Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, tiger muskellunge, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Kohlman Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Kohlman Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 8, 2005 caught 0.83 walleye per trap net at Kohlman Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Kohlman Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Kohlman Lake thaw?
- Kohlman Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 1. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 242 days.
Can I fish at Kohlman Lake?
- Public access to Kohlman Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Kohlman Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Ramsey County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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Where this data comes from
573 measurements from 5 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
MNPCA573 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (5)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate