Alton Lake vs Sawbill Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Alton Lake has a higher water quality grade (B, Good) than Sawbill Lake (C, Fair). Both are in Cook County, Minnesota.
B
Alton Lake
Cook County, Minnesota
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft.
C
Sawbill Lake
Cook County, Minnesota
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.8 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Alton Lake | Sawbill Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | B (Good) | C (Fair) |
| Water Clarity | 13.5 ft | 6.8 ft |
| Phosphorus | No data | No data |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 72 ft | 45 ft |
| Surface Area | 968.63 acres | 833.89 acres |
| Public Access | No | Yes |
| Fish Species | 7 | 8 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Alton Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade B versus Sawbill Lake's Grade C. Water clarity: 13.5 ft vs 6.8 ft. For more fish-species variety, Sawbill Lake edges ahead with 8 documented species.