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LakeQuality
C

Round Lake

Ramsey County, MinnesotaEutrophic

Round Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. 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. Round Lake ranks 13 of 49 in Ramsey County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Round Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Round Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. A documented public access point at Round Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Ice-out has been recorded 7 times at Round Lake, with a median around Apr 8. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality

Water Quality Grade: C, Fair

Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 49 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)8.2 ftC
Phosphorus49 µg/LC
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)54Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Invasive Species

Eurasian watermilfoil

Water Quality Trend: Improving

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

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Stable-0.04 m/yr5
Phosphorus Improving-2.35 µg/L/yr5

Ice Season

Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (8 observations).

Typical Ice-Out
Apr 8
EarliestLatest
Ice-Out2024-03-03 (2024)2018-04-28 (2018)
Ice-In2024-11-30 (2024)2024-11-30 (2024)

Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-29

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #13 of 49 lakes in Ramsey County

Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County

DNR Reports & Resources

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

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate

Most recent sample: 2024-09-18

Monitoring stations: 1