Mccarron Lake
Mccarron Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 57 ft. Surface area: 73.25 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 58°F
- Max depth
- 57 ft
- Area
- 73 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 5
- Open water
- 244 days
Next lake in Ramsey County
Mccarron Lake is a 73-acre mesotrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 57 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and common carp. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Mccarron Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria D
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Mccarron Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 14% of 100 samples across 3 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Minnesota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Mccarron Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mccarron 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.
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Water Temperature
Mccarron Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 56°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 58°F) and coldest in Mar (about 40°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,565 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mccarron Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 57 ft |
| Surface Area | 73 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 34% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- McCarrons LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mccarron 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
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 79.15 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 26.95 | 0.09 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.67 | 0.66 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 11.90 | 0.09 lb |
| Black Crappie | 9.62 | 0.16 lb |
| GOS | 7.22 | 0.1 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
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed
From the 2025-06-11 survey
McCarrons Lake is a developed 73-acre, 57-foot-deep, class 30 lake located in the southeast corner of the City of Roseville. Ramsey County operates and maintains a 15-acre county park on the east side of the lake, providing approximately 900 feet of shoreline access. The park is fully developed and includes a boat…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mccarron Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — McCarronFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — McCarronPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.284 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.76 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.71 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (41 observations).
Estimated open water season: 244 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-08 (2000) | 2008-04-21 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 1998-12-22 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-23
EPA Impairment Status
Mccarron 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 MN62-0054-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Mccarron Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Saint Paul Regional Water Services Mccarron WtpMaplewood · 0.6 mi away · NPDES MN0045829Recent violation
- Agropur IncMaplewood · 0.5 mi away · NPDES MN0068748
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 #7 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Mccarron Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mccarron Lake?
- Mccarron Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 57 ft. Surface area: 73.25 acres.
Is Mccarron Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Mccarron Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 14% of 100 samples across 3 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of D — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Mccarron Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Minnesota's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Mccarron Lake?
- Mccarron Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in August, from 1,565 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mccarron Lake?
- Mccarron Lake has a maximum depth of 57 feet. The lake covers 73.25 acres.
What fish are in Mccarron Lake?
- Fish species found in Mccarron Lake include black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Mccarron Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
When does Mccarron Lake thaw?
- Mccarron Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5. Ice typically forms around Dec 5. The open water season is approximately 244 days.
Are there boat ramps on Mccarron Lake?
- Mccarron Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include McCarrons Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Mccarron Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
1,039 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1,039 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 by Nephelometry
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate