Rose Lake
Rose Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 58.9 acres.
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 59 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 30
Next lake in St. Louis County
Rose Lake is a 59-acre mesotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 31 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Rose Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 17.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Rose Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rose Lake in St. Louis 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 59 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 58% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fishing Rose Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1991-08-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 13.00 | 0.13 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.63 | 5.08 lb |
| Bluegill | 1.63 | 0.4 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.50 | 2.23 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 0.88 | 0.31 lb |
| Walleye | 0.75 | 3.53 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1991-08-08 survey
WAE POPULATION IS WELL BELOW STATE AND LOCAL AVERAGES. SPAWNING AREAS ARE NOT PRESENT. PRESENT WAE POPULATION IS NOT REPRESENTED BY THE 1988 FINGERLING STOCKING (4/LB) AND IS LIKELY THE RESULT OF STOCKING BY RESIDENTS (PERSONNEL COMMUNICATION). SOME LARGE NOP ARE PRESENT, HOWEVER, LACK OF SPAWNING AREAS KEEP…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rose Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RoseFisheries 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 | -0.315 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.91 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.29 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (4 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2019-04-24 (2019) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2008-11-22 (2008) | 2008-11-22 (2008) |
Most recent ice-out: 2019-04-24
EPA Impairment Status
Rose 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 MN69-0521-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.18 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Rose Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rose Lake?
- Rose Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Phosphorus: 17.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 58.9 acres.
Is Rose Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Rose Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Rose Lake?
- Rose Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 58.9 acres.
When does Rose Lake thaw?
- Rose Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 30.
Explore Rose Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
12 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
MNPCA12 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate