Clearwater Lake vs Howard Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Clearwater Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Howard Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Wright County, Minnesota.
Both Clearwater Lake and Howard Lake sit in Minnesota. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any grade differences here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies grading them. Clearwater Lake (A) is materially cleaner than Howard Lake (D). A gap that wide is unlikely to close in a single year of remediation work; it reflects multi-decade differences in the lakes themselves.
For a recreational visitor, the wider grade gap is decisive — Clearwater Lake is the better water-quality choice. For a researcher, the gap is the interesting part: what is different about the two watersheds, and which of those differences is mutable?
Clearwater Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft.
Howard Lake
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Clearwater Lake | Howard Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | D (Poor) |
| Water Clarity | 9.8 ft | 4 ft |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | 57 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.3 µg/L | 21.2 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 73 ft | 39 ft |
| Surface Area | 3,187 acres | 745 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 17 | 16 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Clearwater Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Howard Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 9.8 ft vs 4 ft. For fishing diversity, Clearwater Lake also leads with 17 species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.