A 84-acre shallow lake that has improved in water quality over the last decade.
Kohlman Lake is the first lake in the Phalen Chain of Lakes and is used for a variety of recreational purposes, including motor-boating, canoeing, fishing, picnicking, wildlife habitat and viewing. There is no direct public boat access to Kohlman Lake, although the lake can be accessed via Gervais Lake. While the drainage area that directly reaches the lake is just over 1,000 acres, the total area connected to the lake through Kohlman and Willow Creeks is about 7,500 acres.
Lake facts
| Tributary area | 1,009 acres |
| Downstream waterbody | Gervais Lake |
| DNR code | 62‑0006P (click for LakeFinder data) |
| Surface area | 84 acres |
| Average depth | 4 feet |
| Maximum depth | 12 feet |
| MPCA designations | Shallow lake; impaired for excess nutrients and chloride |
| Accountable municipalities | Little Canada, Maplewood, Vadnais Heights, Ramsey County |
| Nutrient water quality classification | Impaired |
Water quality
The following graphs show the growing season average measurements in Kohlman Lake for chlorophyll-a, total phosphorus and secchi transparency. Kohlman Lake is sampled for water quality parameters every two weeks from May through September. It was listed as impaired for excess nutrients in 2002. A study was completed in 2007 that evaluated the water quality of the lake and developed implementation strategies to address the impairment. As you can see in the graphs, water quality has improved since that study was completed and the implementation efforts began.
Past projects
Notable District water quality improvement projects in the watershed include:
Carp Management – Lake Phalen Chain
See Kohlman Creek for more projects that benefit Kohlman Lake.
More information
You can find detailed information on Kohlman Lake and its tributary area in our watershed management plan.
A Minnesota Story: Urban Shallow Lake Management published in LakeLine by the North American Lake Management Society.