Little Johanna Lake
Little Johanna Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 64.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 17.17 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 17 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Little Johanna Lake →
Next lake in Ramsey County
Little Johanna Lake is a 17-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Little Johanna Lake ranks #38 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-20. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 64.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 15.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 64.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 15.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Johanna Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Johanna 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Little Johanna Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Johanna Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Little Johanna Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in Feb (about 36°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 58 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Johanna Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 0.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 70% |
| Public Access | No |
Fishing Little Johanna Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.124 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.67 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.81 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Little Johanna 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 MN62-0058-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Little Johanna Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Williams Pipe Line Co-Mn CorriSaint Paul · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MN0063304
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #38 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Little Johanna Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Little Johanna Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Johanna Lake?
- Little Johanna Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 64.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 17.17 acres.
Is Little Johanna Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Little Johanna Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 15.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Johanna Lake?
- Little Johanna Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 58 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Johanna Lake?
- Little Johanna Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 17.17 acres.
Explore Little Johanna Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
48 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA48 samples · 2024
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder