Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River
Mille Lacs County, MinnesotaOligotrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric, Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River pulls an A: clarity readings still being added and 25 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Minnesota. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.
Trophically, Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. At only 10 ft deep, Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. At 1,044 acres, Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River is one of the larger lakes in Mille Lacs County, with 17.8 miles of shoreline supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Within Mille Lacs County's 11 graded lakes, Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River ranks 7 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.
Zebra mussels have been documented at Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Outlet of Onamia Lake on the Rum River — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. 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.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 0.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 0.6 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 1.0K acres |
| Shoreline Length | 17.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Invasive Species
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (4 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-03-30 (2015) | 2019-04-20 (2019) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-05
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 11 lakes in Mille Lacs County
Nearby Lakes in Mille Lacs County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Outlet of Onamia 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: 1989-06-13 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 5.41 | 0.26 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 5.22 | 0.38 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 3.88 | 0.53 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.58 | 0.9 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.87 | 0.1 lb |
| White Sucker | 2.68 | 1.81 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1989-06-13 survey
FISH POPULATION IS MOSTLY ROUGHFISH: SUCKERS, CARP BOWFIN AND BULLHEADS WHICH ARE ALL ABOVE THEIR STATE MEDIANS. NORTHERN PIKE ARE JUST ABOVE THE AVERAGE BUT ARE SMALL IN SIZE. THE WALLEYE POPULA- TION IS LOW AND YELLOW PERCH ARE AT HALF OF THE STATE AVERAGE IN NUMBER. SOME BLUEGILLS 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 Onamia Lake on the Rum River. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OnamiaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Onamia (0341)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-10-08
Monitoring stations: 1