Wabasso Lake
Wabasso Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in August
- 54°F
- Max depth
- 66 ft
- Area
- 43 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
- Open water
- 241 days
Next lake in Ramsey County
Wabasso Lake is a 43-acre mesotrophic lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 66 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 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Wabasso Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria B
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.
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.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus level: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 31 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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
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
Wabasso Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 66 ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 65% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Owasso Lake County ParkPublic
- Wabasso LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2015-06-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 82.06 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 11.99 | 0.42 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.60 | 0.59 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.28 | 0.12 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.71 | 0.19 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 3.54 | 0.59 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
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
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.007 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.5 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.39 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
Estimated open water season: 241 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2026-03-31 (2026) | 2018-04-29 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2006-12-01 (2006) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-31
EPA Impairment Status
Wabasso 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 (1.4 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 44 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Wabasso Lake holds Grade C. 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 Wabasso Lake
What is the water quality grade for Wabasso Lake?
- Wabasso Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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 works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of B — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Wabasso Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Minnesota's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Wabasso Lake?
- Wabasso Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Wabasso Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Ramsey County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Wabasso Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate