Lower Hay Lake vs Ross Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Lower Hay Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Ross Lake (C, Fair). Both are in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
Both Lower Hay Lake and Ross 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. Lower Hay Lake (A) is materially cleaner than Ross Lake (C). 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 — Lower Hay 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?
Lower Hay Lake
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down.
Ross Lake
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Lower Hay Lake | Ross Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | C (Fair) |
| Water Clarity | 19 ft | 3.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | 26 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 100 ft | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 700.21 acres | 491.76 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 1 | 1 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Lower Hay Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Ross Lake's Grade C. Water clarity: 19 ft vs 3.5 ft. For fishing diversity, Lower Hay Lake also leads with 1 species.