Lost Lake
Lost Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 63.15 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 63 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Washington County
Lost Lake is a 63-acre mesotrophic lake in Washington County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. 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 74 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Lost Lake ranks #31 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-21. 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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lost Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lost 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lost Lake
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Water Temperature
Lost Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Apr (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lost Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 63 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 42% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lost 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.599 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.47 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.51 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lost Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN82-0134-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.1 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #31 of 75 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lost Lake holds Grade C. 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 Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Lost Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lost Lake?
- Lost Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 63.15 acres.
Is Lost Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Lost Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lost Lake?
- Lost Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lost Lake?
- Lost Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 63.15 acres.
What fish are in Lost Lake?
- Fish species found in Lost Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lost Lake is located in Washington County, Minnesota.
Explore Lost Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
112 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA112 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder