Skip to main content
LakeQuality
C

Ramsey Lake

Wright County, MinnesotaEutrophic

The LakeGrade rubric puts Ramsey Lake at a C: clarity at 4.6 ft, 39 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 56 signal an intermediate trophic state. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Among the 64 graded lakes in Wright County, Ramsey Lake sits at rank 31, above the county median.

Ramsey Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Ramsey Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Track Ramsey Lake

Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Swimming Safety

Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality

Water Quality Grade: C, Fair

Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 39 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)4.6 ftD
Phosphorus39 µg/LC
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)56Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Eurasian watermilfoil

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.14 m/yr5
Phosphorus Declining+2.95 µg/L/yr5
See year-by-year chart →

Location

Loading map…

County Ranking

Ranked #31 of 64 lakes in Wright County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Ramsey Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Wright County

State Parks Near Ramsey Lake

DNR Reports & Resources

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ramsey Lake. 1 report on file.

EPA Impairment Status

Ramsey Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN86-0120-00 · Official waterbody report

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2024-09-16

Monitoring stations: 1