Outlet of Ogechie Lake on the Rum River
Mille Lacs County, MinnesotaOligotrophic
Outlet of Ogechie Lake on the Rum River earns an A — every scored parameter (phosphorus and chlorophyll-a) rates among the best monitored waters in Mille Lacs County. With phosphorus and chlorophyll-a scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.
Trophically, Outlet of Ogechie Lake on the Rum River reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. A maximum depth of just 6 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. At 409 acres, Outlet of Ogechie Lake on the Rum River fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 6.2 miles of shoreline. Within Mille Lacs County's 11 graded waters, Outlet of Ogechie Lake on the Rum River sits at rank 2, near the top of the local distribution.
Outlet of Ogechie Lake on the Rum River is on the Minnesota infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Outlet of Ogechie Lake on the Rum River, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Track Outlet of Ogechie Lake on the Rum River
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 24 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 0.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 0.3 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 409.14 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
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: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 11 lakes in Mille Lacs County
Nearby Lakes in Mille Lacs County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Outlet of Ogechie Lake on the Rum River
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1989-06-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Bass | 27.40 | 0.3 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 13.81 | 0.2 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 13.03 | 0.34 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 8.86 | 0.62 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.31 | 0.2 lb |
| Common Carp | 5.89 | 8.63 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1989-06-15 survey
NORTHERN PIKE ARE SMALL AND ABUNDANT, CARP NUMBERS ARE JUST OVER THE MEDIAN FOR TRAPNETS. ALL THREE SPECIES OF BULLHEADS ARE PRESENT WITH THE YELLOW BULLHEAD AT FIFTY-ONE TIMES THE STATE MEDIAN FOR GILLNETS, PUMPKINSEED ARE OVER ABUNDANT AND MOSTLY SMALL. MANY YOUNG OF THE YEAR PUMPKINSEED WERE CAUGHT IN THE NATURAL…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Outlet of Ogechie Lake on the Rum River. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OgechieFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Ogechie (0340)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Outlet of Ogechie Lake on the Rum River is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Ogechie Lake (completed 1952) on the Rum River; gravity-type dam, 10 ft tall and 80 ft long.
- Surface area
- 410 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,275 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,550 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 419 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR-Parks
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00250 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.02 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2024-10-08
Monitoring stations: 1