White Bear Lake
Washington County, Minnesota2,428 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for White Bear Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 83 ft max depth
- Public access
White Bear Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 83 ft. Surface area: 2427.7 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 15, 2024 caught 1.50 walleye per gill net at White Bear Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of White Bear Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 80 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
White Bear Lake is a 2,428-acre mesotrophic lake in Washington County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 83 feet (20-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 74 other monitored lakes in Washington County, White Bear Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-13. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
White Bear Lake covers about 2,400 acres in Washington County. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is April 12, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near White Bear Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What White Bear Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.4 ft of visibility
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 12
- Deep water83 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water2,428 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyBacteria tested: exceedances
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, White Bear Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 9% of 156 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 White Bear 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 White Bear Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for White Bear 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 14.4 ft. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.7 µg/L. TSI 41.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14.4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 15µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.7µg/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. | 41 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about White Bear Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
White Bear Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 65°F) and coldest in Apr (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (45°F) to its warmest (65°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,376 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full White Bear Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for White Bear Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (147,231 cells/mL) on September 13, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 15, 2024 caught 1.50 walleye per gill net at White Bear Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows White Bear 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
24 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-15 (Targeted Survey).
24 surveys on file · most recent 2024-07-15 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 37.70 | ||
| Bluegill | 21.32 | 3–8 in 2024-07-15 | 0.13 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 10.24 |
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
From the 2024-07-15 survey
White Bear Lake is a mesotrophic, class 22 lake located in Ramsey and Washington Counties. The Lake has a maximum depth of 83 feet and is 2,427 acres in surface area, with 1,314 littoral acres (54.4%). The primary management species are Walleye and Muskellunge, and the secondary management species are Largemouth Bass…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for White Bear Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — White BearFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — White BearFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — White BearPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
83 ft
Average depth
20 ft
Surface area
2,428 acres
Shoreline
13.6 mi
Littoral zone
54%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
22 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
912 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- White Bear Lake ParkPublic
- Matoska ParkPublic
- White Bear Yacht ClubSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near White Bear Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near White Bear Lake in Washington 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 White Bear Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 trip? Cabins and lodging at White Bear Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing White Bear 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
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.11 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.53 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 12
Earliest Mar 8, 2024 · Latest May 4, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 6
Earliest Nov 24, 2013 · Latest Jan 18, 2024
Most recent ice-out
Mar 31
2026
183 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
White Bear Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN82-0167-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about White Bear Lake
Where is White Bear Lake?
- White Bear Lake is a lake in Washington County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of White Bear Lake?
- White Bear Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 83 ft. Surface area: 2427.7 acres.
Is White Bear Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, White Bear Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 9% of 156 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 White Bear 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 White Bear Lake?
- White Bear Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October, from 1,376 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is White Bear Lake?
- White Bear Lake has a maximum depth of 83 feet and an average depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 2427.7 acres.
What fish are in White Bear Lake?
- Fish species found in White Bear Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. White Bear Lake is located in Washington County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at White Bear Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 15, 2024 caught 1.50 walleye per gill net at White Bear Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows White Bear 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 White Bear Lake thaw?
- White Bear Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 12. Ice typically forms around Dec 6. The open water season is approximately 238 days.
Does White Bear Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for White Bear Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (147,231 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on White Bear Lake?
- White Bear Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include White Bear Lake Park, Matoska Park, White Bear Yacht Club. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at White Bear Lake?
- White Bear Lake has 3 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 White Bear Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
1,045 measurements from 7 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
MNPCA1,045 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
Monitoring station identifiers (7)
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
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