Phalen Lake
Phalen Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 91 ft. Surface area: 197.69 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.1 ft
- Max depth
- 91 ft
- Area
- 198 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 3
- Open water
- 245 days
Next lake in Ramsey County
Phalen Lake is a 198-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 91 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Phalen Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria C
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Phalen Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 6.5% of 92 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.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 34 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Phalen Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Phalen 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 Phalen Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 91 ft |
| Surface Area | 198 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 40% |
| Public Access | No |
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 Phalen 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
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-03 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 33.68 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.45 | 0.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.40 | 0.48 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.55 | 2.13 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.52 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 2.64 | 0.3 lb |
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
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2020-08-03 survey
Lake Phalen is a 197-acre, class 24 lake located in Ramsey County within the Cities of St. Paul and Maplewood. A regional park surrounds the lake and contains a swimming beach, boat ramp, picnic area, extensive walking and biking trails, and a golf course. Maximum depth is 97 feet, and only 40% of total lake area is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Phalen Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PhalenFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PhalenFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.079 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.99 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (30 observations).
Estimated open water season: 245 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-07 (2024) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2020-12-02 (2020) | 2017-12-10 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-29
EPA Impairment Status
Phalen 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 MN62-0013-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Phalen Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Northern Iron Of St. PaulSaint Paul · 1.4 mi away · NPDES MN0059277
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Phalen Lake
What is the water quality grade for Phalen Lake?
- Phalen Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 91 ft. Surface area: 197.69 acres.
Is Phalen Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Phalen Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 6.5% of 92 samples across 3 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of C — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Phalen Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Minnesota's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
How deep is Phalen Lake?
- Phalen Lake has a maximum depth of 91 feet. The lake covers 197.69 acres.
What fish are in Phalen Lake?
- Fish species found in Phalen Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Phalen Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
When does Phalen Lake thaw?
- Phalen Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 3. Ice typically forms around Dec 4. The open water season is approximately 245 days.
Explore Phalen Lake across LakeGrade
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
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State Parks Near Phalen Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
807 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA807 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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