Wabasso Lake
Ramsey County, Minnesota43 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Wabasso Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 66 ft max depth
- Public access
Wabasso Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 66 ft. Surface area: 42.82 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 20, 2015 caught 8.50 northern pike per gill net at Wabasso Lake. DNR survey details →
Wabasso Lake is a 43-acre mesotrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 66 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Wabasso Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Wabasso Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13 ft of visibility
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing9 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 4
- Deep water66 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyBacteria tested: low
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Based on E. coli testing, Wabasso Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 3.1% of 64 samples across 3 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Minnesota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Whether Wabasso Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Wabasso Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Wabasso Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.3 µg/L. TSI 47.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 13ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 31µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 47 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Wabasso Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Wabasso Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 53°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 54°F) and coldest in Jan (about 36°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (36°F) to its warmest (54°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,399 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wabasso Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 20, 2015 caught 8.50 northern pike per gill net at Wabasso Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wabasso Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2015-06-20 (Standard Survey).
9 surveys on file · most recent 2015-06-20 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 82.06 | 2–8 in 2015-06-20 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 11.99 | 10–12 in 2015-06-20 | 0.42 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.60 | 7–16 in 2015-06-20 | 0.59 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.28 | 6 in 2005-06-20 | 0.12 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.71 | 4–10 in 2015-06-20 | 0.19 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 3.54 | 13 in 2000-06-26 | 0.59 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2015-06-20 survey
Lake Wabbaso is a 46-acre Bass-Bluegill lake located in Ramsey County where Bluegill and Largemouth Bass are the primary management species, and Northern Pike are a secondary management species. Bluegills were the most abundant species sampled in Lake Wabasso, although catches were significantly lower than in previous…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wabasso Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WabassoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WabassoPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
66 ft
Surface area
43 acres
Shoreline
1.3 mi
Littoral zone
65%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
6 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
886 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Owasso Lake County ParkPublic
- Wabasso LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Wabasso Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wabasso 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 Wabasso Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wabasso Lake
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: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+3.5 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+2.39 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 4
Earliest Mar 31, 2026 · Latest Apr 29, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Dec 1, 2006 · Latest Dec 20, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Mar 31
2026
9 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Wabasso Lake
Where is Wabasso Lake?
- Wabasso Lake is a lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Wabasso Lake?
- Wabasso Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 66 ft. Surface area: 42.82 acres.
Is Wabasso Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Wabasso Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 3.1% of 64 samples across 3 seasons. That is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether Wabasso Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for Minnesota's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Wabasso Lake?
- Wabasso Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in September, from 1,399 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Wabasso Lake?
- Wabasso Lake has a maximum depth of 66 feet. The lake covers 42.82 acres.
What fish are in Wabasso Lake?
- Fish species found in Wabasso Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead. Wabasso Lake is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Wabasso Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 20, 2015 caught 8.50 northern pike per gill net at Wabasso Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wabasso Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Wabasso Lake thaw?
- Wabasso Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 241 days.
Are there boat ramps on Wabasso Lake?
- Wabasso Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Owasso Lake County Park, Wabasso Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Wabasso Lake?
- Wabasso Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Wabasso Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
678 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA678 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
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate