The nearest town is Pickle Lake, 30 kilometres (19 mi) north along Highway 599.

The Hudson's Bay Company established Osnaburgh House on the lake in 1786, and it operated there until 1939.

Persons wishing to fish this lake must receive a special permit from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

An agreement was reached between the provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to undertake a diversion of Lake St. Joseph and enacted into law in 1958.

[5] Dams at Rat Rapids at the Albany River outflow at the northeast of the lake partially back up the outflow and divert water over a control dam (50°52′10″N 91°27′12″W / 50.869506°N 91.453242°W / 50.869506; -91.453242) at the south end of Root Bay at the southwest end of the lake, into the Root River in the adjacent Lac Seul drainage basin.