Mccarron Lake
Ramsey County, Minnesota73 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Mccarron Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 57 ft max depth
- Public access
Mccarron Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2025 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at Mccarron Lake. DNR survey details →
Mccarron Lake is a 73-acre mesotrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 57 feet. 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. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Mccarron Lake covers about 73 acres in Ramsey County. The median ice-out date is April 5, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Mccarron Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Mccarron Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.5 ft of visibility
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 5
- Deep water57 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyBacteria tested: exceedances
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.
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.
Whether Mccarron 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 Mccarron Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Mccarron Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 30µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 6µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 48 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Mccarron Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Mccarron Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (40°F) to its warmest (58°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2025 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at Mccarron Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Mccarron 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
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-11 (Standard Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2025-06-11 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 79.15 | 3–8 in 2025-06-11 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 26.95 | 5–6 in 2025-06-11 | 0.09 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.67 | 5–21 in 2019-06-09 | 0.66 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 11.90 | 4–6 in 2025-06-11 | 0.09 lb |
| Black Crappie | 9.62 | 5–8 in 2025-06-11 | 0.16 lb |
| Golden Shiner | 7.22 | 6 in 2025-06-11 | 0.1 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
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
Lake Details
Max depth
57 ft
Surface area
73 acres
Shoreline
1.5 mi
Littoral zone
34%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
833 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Mccarron 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 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.76 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+1.71 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 5
Earliest Mar 8, 2000 · Latest Apr 21, 2008
Typical ice-in
Dec 5
Earliest Nov 20, 2018 · Latest Dec 22, 1998
Most recent ice-out
Mar 23
2025
41 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
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.
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Mccarron Lake
Where is Mccarron Lake?
- Mccarron 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 Mccarron Lake?
- Mccarron Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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 is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether Mccarron Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for Minnesota's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Mccarron Lake?
- Mccarron Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Mccarron Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2025 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at Mccarron Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Mccarron 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 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.
Can I fish at Mccarron Lake?
- Public access to Mccarron Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Mccarron Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
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