Spring Lake
Spring Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 32.03 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 32 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Spring Lake →
Next lake in Ramsey County
Spring Lake is a 32-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Spring Lake ranks #32 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 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)
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 23.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 44 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 23.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Spring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spring Lake in Ramsey 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 Spring Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Spring 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
Spring Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 74°F) and coldest in Oct (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 42 field readings (2019–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spring Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 160% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spring Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-08-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Green Sunfish | 89.64 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 37.67 | 0.12 lb |
| Bluegill | 29.34 | 0.19 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 18.50 | 0.26 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 6.11 | 0.25 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.70 | 0.13 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Green Sunfish
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2018-08-12 survey
Spring Lake (also called Wood Lake) has been managed by the Fishing in the Neighborhood Program since 2003. Spring Lake sits on the borders of three cities (Spring Lake Park, Mounds View and Fridley) and two counties (Anoka and Ramsey). A fishing pier was installed in 2005 and a surface aspirating aerator in 2006.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Spring Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SpringFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SpringFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.005 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -6.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +4.3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Spring Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN02-0072-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.16 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #32 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Spring Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Spring Lake
What is the water quality grade for Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 32.03 acres.
Is Spring 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. Spring Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 23.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 42 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 32.03 acres.
What fish are in Spring Lake?
- Fish species found in Spring Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed. Spring Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
Explore Spring Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
53 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA53 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 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