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LakeQuality

Rose Lake

F
Grade F — Algae-prone
Algae-prone · #70 of 75 lakes in the county · 1.8 ft clear · Hypereutrophic · 75 acres
Limited DataHypereutrophic

Rose Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 132.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 74.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11.3 ft. Surface area: 75.37 acres.

Clarity
1.8 ft
Typical in August
75°F
Max depth
11.3 ft
Area
75 acres
Type
Hypereutrophic
Public access
No

Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Rose Lake

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FHorseshoe Lake4.8 ft clear · Washington CountyView →
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Rose Lake is a 75-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Washington County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 74 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Rose Lake ranks #70 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Grade only

Limited 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.

Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom

Compare the safest swimming lakes near St. Paul

Get alerts for Rose Lake

Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)

Very murky, less than 1.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 132.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 74.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 72.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)1.8 ftNot graded
Phosphorus132.5 µg/LPoor
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)74.5 µg/LPoor
Trophic State Index (TSI)72Hypereutrophic

Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity

Where to stay near Rose Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rose Lake in Washington 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 Rose Lake are listed below.

Top-rated places to stay near Rose 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

Rose Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 75°F) and coldest in Apr (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
53°
May
70°
Jun
66°
Jul
73°
Aug
75°
Sep
66°
Oct
58°
Nov
Dec

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (20102024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth11.3 ft
Surface Area75 acres
Shoreline Length2.9 mi
Littoral Zone100%
Public AccessNo

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing Rose 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.

Eurasian watermilfoil

EPA Impairment Status

Rose Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN82-0110-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.07 km)

County Ranking

Ranked #70 of 75 lakes in Washington County

Nearby Lakes in Washington County

Frequently asked questions about Rose Lake

What is the water quality grade for Rose Lake?

Rose Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 132.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 74.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11.3 ft. Surface area: 75.37 acres.

Is Rose Lake safe to swim in?

Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Rose Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 74.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

What is the water temperature of Rose Lake?

Rose Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

How deep is Rose Lake?

Rose Lake has a maximum depth of 11.3 feet. The lake covers 75.37 acres.

What fish are in Rose Lake?

Fish species found in Rose Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead. Rose Lake is located in Washington County, Minnesota.

Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota

Where this data comes from

56 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface WaterMNPCA56 samples · 2024

Analytical methods

  • Field measurement/observation, generic method
  • Phosphorus by Colorimetry
  • Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder