How Clean Is Shell Lake?
Shell Lake is among the cleanest lakes in Minnesota. It received a water quality grade of A (Excellent) based on EPA monitoring data. Water clarity (Secchi depth): 7.3 ft. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
Cleanliness Snapshot
| Metric | Shell Lake | Minnesota avg |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A | C |
| Water Clarity (Secchi) | 7.3 ft | — |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | <30 = clean |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5 µg/L | <10 = clean |
| Trophic State Index | 48 | <50 = clean |
How does Shell Lake compare?
Shell Lake's grade of A matches or beats the Minnesota state average of C. It ranks #9 of 84 lakes in Becker County by water quality score. Multi-year monitoring data shows water quality is improving based on 2 years of records.