Big Fish Lake vs Cedar Island Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Big Fish Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Cedar Island Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Stearns County, Minnesota.
A
Big Fish Lake
Stearns County, Minnesota
Crystal clear, you can see 20.7 ft down.
D
Cedar Island Lake
Stearns County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Big Fish Lake | Cedar Island Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | D (Poor) |
| Water Clarity | 20.7 ft | 4 ft |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | 60.5 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 70 ft | 75 ft |
| Surface Area | 557.31 acres | 985.77 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 15 | 22 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Big Fish Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Cedar Island Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 20.7 ft vs 4 ft. For more fish-species variety, Cedar Island Lake edges ahead with 22 documented species.