Esquagamah Lake vs Ross Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Ross Lake has a higher water quality grade (C, Fair) than Esquagamah Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Minnesota.
D
Esquagamah Lake
Aitkin County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft.
C
Ross Lake
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Esquagamah Lake | Ross Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | D (Poor) | C (Fair) |
| Water Clarity | 5 ft | 3.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | No data | 26 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 842.04 acres | 491.76 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 14 | 13 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Ross Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade C versus Esquagamah Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 3.5 ft vs 5 ft. For more fish-species variety, Esquagamah Lake edges ahead with 14 documented species.