Elm Island Lake vs Nord Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Nord Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Elm Island Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
D
Elm Island Lake
Aitkin County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft.
A
Nord Lake
Aitkin County, Minnesota
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Elm Island Lake | Nord Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | D (Poor) | A (Excellent) |
| Water Clarity | 4 ft | 10.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | No data | 19 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 519.52 acres | 418.16 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 15 | 14 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Nord Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Elm Island Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 10.5 ft vs 4 ft. For more fish-species variety, Elm Island Lake edges ahead with 15 documented species.