Ely Lake vs Esquagama Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Ely Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Esquagama Lake (D, Poor). Both are in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
A
Ely Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down.
D
Esquagama Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Ely Lake | Esquagama Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | D (Poor) |
| Water Clarity | 16 ft | 3.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 7 µg/L | No data |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 70 ft | 90 ft |
| Surface Area | 723.09 acres | 452.61 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | No |
| Fish Species | 14 | 12 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Ely Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Esquagama Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 16 ft vs 3.5 ft. For fishing diversity, Ely Lake also leads with 14 species.