How Clean Is Big Lake?
Big Lake has fair water quality — typical of lakes with moderate nutrient enrichment. It received a water quality grade of C (Fair) based on EPA monitoring data. Water clarity (Secchi depth): 6.9 ft. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
Cleanliness Snapshot
| Metric | Big Lake | Minnesota avg |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | C | C |
| Water Clarity (Secchi) | 6.9 ft | — |
| Phosphorus | 26.5 µg/L | <30 = clean |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.7 µg/L | <10 = clean |
| Trophic State Index | 52 | <50 = clean |
How does Big Lake compare?
Big Lake's grade of C matches or beats the Minnesota state average of C. It ranks #6 of 32 lakes in Stearns County by water quality score. Multi-year monitoring data shows water quality is declining based on 6 years of records.