Silver Lake

Silver Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than 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. Silver Lake reaches 18 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 76 acres, Silver Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Among the 49 graded lakes in Ramsey County, Silver Lake sits at rank 17, above the county median.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Silver Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Walleye are documented at Silver Lake, one of 12 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Silver Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 8 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 2. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.