Clear Lake vs Elm Island Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Clear Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Elm Island Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
A
Clear Lake
Aitkin County, Minnesota
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down.
D
Elm Island Lake
Aitkin County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Clear Lake | Elm Island Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | D (Poor) |
| Water Clarity | 16 ft | 4 ft |
| Phosphorus | No data | No data |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 573.5 acres | 519.52 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 14 | 15 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Clear Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Elm Island Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 16 ft vs 4 ft. For more fish-species variety, Elm Island Lake edges ahead with 15 documented species.