Vadnais Lake
Ramsey County, MinnesotaHypereutrophic
Vadnais Lake grades an F: every scored parameter (clarity and phosphorus) rates poorly, placing it among the most stressed lakes monitored in Minnesota. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
The hypereutrophic status — TSI 74 — reflects sustained heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed and frequent algal pressure. Vadnais Lake is a shallow lake at 9 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. At 212 acres, Vadnais Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 2.6 miles of shoreline. Vadnais Lake ranks 46 of 49 in Ramsey County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.
Zebra mussels have been documented at Vadnais Lake, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. 9 fish species are on record, with panfish making up the recreational core. No formal public access is documented at Vadnais Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 98.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 74.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 98.5 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 74 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 211.62 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Vadnais Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Vadnais Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Vadnais Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.035 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.5 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #46 of 49 lakes in Ramsey County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Vadnais Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BWabasso LakeRamsey County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- BOwasso LakeRamsey County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- CTwin LakeRamsey County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CSucker LakeRamsey County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DIsland LakeRamsey County · mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Vadnais Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2001-07-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 72.08 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 18.50 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 15.17 | 0.15 lb |
| Common Carp | 14.95 | 3.73 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 7.92 | 0.27 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 1.42 | 0.15 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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Common Carp
Brown Bullhead
From the 2001-07-09 survey
West Vadnais Lake has been dominated by black bullheads since the survey of 1986. Prior to that brown bullheads were the most commonly caught specie. The fish population of West Vadnais apparently suffers complete or partial winterkill on nearly an annual basis. Game fish sampled were one 19" northern pike, several…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Vadnais Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — West VadnaisFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Vadnais 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 MN62-0038-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.05 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2024-09-04
Monitoring stations: 1