Twin Lake
Twin Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 32.43 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 59°F
- Max depth
- 33 ft
- Area
- 32 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Ramsey County
Twin Lake is a 32-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and green sunfish. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Twin Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Twin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Twin 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Twin Lake
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Water Temperature
Twin Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 56°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 59°F) and coldest in Mar (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 893 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Twin Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33 ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 48% |
| 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 Twin Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1996-07-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 21.58 | 0.32 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.96 | 0.11 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.22 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.57 | 0.17 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.41 | 0.08 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 3.89 | 0.08 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
Pumpkinseed
From the 1996-07-24 survey
Twin Lake does not appear to have winterkilled sevrely in the past five or more years. Thus, populations of several species offer angling opportunities to lake residents. However, there is no public access. Bluegill were the most abundant specices sample, but are small with an average size of 4.5 inches and fewer than…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Twin Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TwinFisheries 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 | -0.254 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.21 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +3.13 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Twin 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 MN62-0038-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.33 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Twin Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Twin Lake
What is the water quality grade for Twin Lake?
- Twin Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 32.43 acres.
Is Twin Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Twin Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Twin Lake?
- Twin Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August, from 893 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Twin Lake?
- Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 33 feet. The lake covers 32.43 acres.
What fish are in Twin Lake?
- Fish species found in Twin Lake include black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch. Twin Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
Explore Twin Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
628 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
MNPCA628 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
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