Wilmes Lake
Washington County, MinnesotaView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Wilmes Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- Limited data
Wilmes Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 66.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L.
Wilmes Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washington County, Minnesota. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 74 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Wilmes Lake ranks #74 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
The median ice-out date is March 27, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Wilmes Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Wilmes Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 27
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Wilmes 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 Wilmes Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Wilmes Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus 66.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 31 µg/L. TSI 63.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 66.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 31µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 63 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Wilmes Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Wilmes Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 66°F) and coldest in Apr (about 44°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (44°F) to its warmest (66°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 158 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wilmes Lake water temperature breakdown →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Wilmes Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wilmes 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Wilmes Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Wilmes 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 whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Wilmes Lake’s readings
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Fishing Wilmes 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.
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 27
Earliest Mar 15, 2016 · Latest Apr 20, 2008
Most recent ice-out
Mar 15
2016
4 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Wilmes Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Wilmes Lake Alum Treatment FacilityWoodbury · 0.6 mi away · NPDES MN0071749MajorRecent violation
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.
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Wilmes Lake
Where is Wilmes Lake?
- Wilmes 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 Wilmes Lake?
- Wilmes Lake in Washington County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 66.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31 µg/L.
Is Wilmes Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Wilmes Lake?
- Wilmes Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in October, from 158 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
When does Wilmes Lake thaw?
- Wilmes Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 27.
Can I fish at Wilmes Lake?
- Public access to Wilmes Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. 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 Wilmes Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Washington County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Wilmes Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
56 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA56 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate