Owasso Lake
Ramsey County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
Owasso Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Minnesota lake of its size and depth. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.
A TSI near 50 places Owasso Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. The lake bottoms out at 37 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. Owasso Lake covers 375 acres alongside 5.7 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Among the 49 graded lakes in Ramsey County, Owasso Lake ranks 11 — in the top quartile locally.
Owasso Lake 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. Muskie are on the species list at Owasso Lake, alongside the lake's 15 other documented fish. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Ice-out has been logged at Owasso Lake more than two dozen times, putting the median around Apr 5 — a useful baseline for tracking climate trends. 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 2024-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 26 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 26 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Average Depth | 11.2 ft |
| Surface Area | 374.96 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 78% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Owasso Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Owasso Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Owasso Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive Species
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.031 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.7 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (78 observations).
Estimated open water season: 236 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-08 (2017) | 1965-04-29 (1965) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-02 (2002) | 2006-12-05 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2021-03-23
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 49 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Owasso Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-13 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 77.84 | 0.09 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 17.56 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.32 | 0.9 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 9.85 | 0.47 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 9.75 | 0.11 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 9.65 | — |
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
Largemouth Bass
Black Bullhead
Green Sunfish
From the 2024-06-13 survey
Lake Owasso is a eutrophic, class 24 lake located in Ramsey County. The lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet and is 375 acres in surface area, with 293 littoral acres (78%). The primary management species in Lake Owasso are Walleye and Muskellunge, and the secondary management species is Largemouth Bass. Eurasian…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Owasso Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OwassoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — OwassoFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — OwassoPublic Water Access Sites · 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: 2024-09-29
Monitoring stations: 1