Pleasant Lake
Pleasant Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 607.23 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 58 ft
- Area
- 607 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Pleasant Lake →
Next lake in Ramsey County
Pleasant Lake is a 607-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 58 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Pleasant Lake ranks #24 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 54 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Pleasant Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pleasant 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Pleasant Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pleasant Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Pleasant Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 19 field readings (2023–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pleasant Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Pleasant Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (34,995 cells/mL) on November 1, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 58 ft |
| Surface Area | 607 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| 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 Pleasant 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
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-09-22 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 13.45 | 0.41 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.42 | 0.21 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.78 | 0.34 lb |
| White Bass | 5.28 | 0.68 lb |
| Walleye | 5.11 | 1.36 lb |
| Common Carp | 1.95 | 3.6 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.
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
White Bass
From the 2020-09-22 survey
This lake is located within the City of North Oaks, a gated community. North Oaks was initially the summer retreat of railroad baron James J. Hill. Most of the land surrounding the lake was developed as upscale, single family housing by the North Oaks Association, which retains ownership of the land. The immediate…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pleasant Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PleasantFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.048 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +8.93 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.44 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Pleasant 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 MN62-0046-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #24 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pleasant Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Pleasant Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pleasant Lake?
- Pleasant Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 607.23 acres.
Is Pleasant Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Pleasant Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pleasant Lake?
- Pleasant Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 19 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pleasant Lake?
- Pleasant Lake has a maximum depth of 58 feet. The lake covers 607.23 acres.
What fish are in Pleasant Lake?
- Fish species found in Pleasant Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white bass, yellow perch. Pleasant Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
Does Pleasant Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Pleasant Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (34,995 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Pleasant 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
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
176 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
MNPCA176 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder