Watab Lake
Watab Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 96.64 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Max depth
- 54 ft
- Area
- 97 acres
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 10
- Open water
- 230 days
Next lake in Stearns County
Why Watab Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Watab Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Watab Lake is a 97-acre lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 54 feet (19-foot average). The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Watab Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Watab Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Watab Lake in Stearns 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 Watab Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 54 ft |
| Average Depth | 19.4 ft |
| Surface Area | 97 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 34% |
| 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 Watab 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
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2008-08-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 30.81 | 0.6 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 27.11 | 0.26 lb |
| Bluegill | 7.85 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.89 | 0.25 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.46 | 0.05 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 3.92 | 1.78 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Pumpkinseed
From the 2008-08-18 survey
Watab-Rossier Lakes are located in Stearns County, two miles north of the City of St. Joseph. The lakes are relatively deep, and the Watab River flows through them on its way to the Mississippi. Watab (Long) is a recreational development lake while Rossier (Rose) is a natural environment lake. There is a private…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Watab Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WatabFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (82 observations).
Estimated open water season: 230 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-12 (2024) | 2013-05-03 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1996-11-05 (1996) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-29
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Watab Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger.
- Cmp Sartell Llc Sartell MillSartell · 4.7 mi away · NPDES MN0000973Major
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Watab Lake
Watab Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Watab Lake
What is the water quality grade for Watab Lake?
- Watab Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 96.64 acres.
Is Watab Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Watab Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Watab Lake?
- Watab Lake has a maximum depth of 54 feet and an average depth of 19.4 feet. The lake covers 96.64 acres.
What fish are in Watab Lake?
- Fish species found in Watab Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead. Watab Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Watab Lake thaw?
- Watab Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 10. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 230 days.
Explore Watab Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA3 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate