Ramsey Lake
Ramsey Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.8 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 61°F
- Mean depth
- ~33 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Ramsey Lake →
Next lake in Wright County
Ramsey Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wright County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 33 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 50 other monitored lakes in Wright County, Ramsey Lake ranks #28 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 onlyAlgae risk
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 4.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 19.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Ramsey Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ramsey Lake in Wright 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 Ramsey Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Ramsey Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Ramsey Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 55°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 61°F) and coldest in May (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 91 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ramsey Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~33 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Ramsey Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Ramsey LakePublic
Fishing Ramsey 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 Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ramsey Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Public Water Access Sites — Ramsey (Main Lake)Public 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 | -0.13 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.06 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +6.88 µg/L/yr | 6 |
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN86-0120-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Ramsey Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Maple Lake WwtfMaple Lake · 0.9 mi away · NPDES MN0024082
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 #28 of 51 lakes in Wright County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Ramsey Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Wright County
Frequently asked questions about Ramsey Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ramsey Lake?
- Ramsey Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.8 µg/L.
Is Ramsey 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. Ramsey Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 19.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Ramsey Lake?
- Ramsey Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August, from 91 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Ramsey Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Ramsey Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 33 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Ramsey Lake?
- Ramsey Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ramsey Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
87 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
MNPCA87 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 (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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory