How Clean Is Elbow Lake?
Elbow Lake is among the cleanest lakes in Minnesota. Its nutrient and algae readings come from EPA monitoring data. Water clarity (Secchi depth): 3.7 ft. Phosphorus: 18.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
Cleanliness Snapshot
| Metric | Elbow Lake | Minnesota avg |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi) | 3.7 ft | — |
| Phosphorus | 18.5 µg/L | <30 = clean |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.8 µg/L | <10 = clean |
| Trophic State Index | 50 | <50 = clean |
How does Elbow Lake compare?
Elbow Lake's readings match or beat the Minnesota state average. It ranks #13 of 44 lakes in Cook County on nutrient and algae readings. Multi-year monitoring data shows water quality is declining based on 2 years of records.
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