Owasso Lake
Owasso Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 374.96 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 375 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 5
- Open water
- 236 days
Next lake in Ramsey County
Owasso Lake is a 375-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet (11-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Owasso Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 27 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Owasso Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Owasso 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
Owasso Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 68°F) and coldest in Mar (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 880 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Owasso Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Average Depth | 11.2 ft |
| Surface Area | 375 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 78% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Owasso 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
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —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
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.084 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.83 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.64 µg/L/yr | 6 |
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
EPA Impairment Status
Owasso 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 MN62-0075-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.92 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Owasso Lake
What is the water quality grade for Owasso Lake?
- Owasso Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 374.96 acres.
Is Owasso Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Owasso Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Owasso Lake?
- Owasso Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 880 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Owasso Lake?
- Owasso Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet and an average depth of 11.2 feet. The lake covers 374.96 acres.
What fish are in Owasso Lake?
- Fish species found in Owasso Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Owasso Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
When does Owasso Lake thaw?
- Owasso Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 236 days.
Explore Owasso Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Ramsey County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Owasso Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
663 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
MNPCA663 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate