Lower Prior Lake vs Spring Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Lower Prior Lake has a higher water quality grade (C, Fair) than Spring Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Scott County, Minnesota.
Lower Prior Lake and Spring Lake are both in Minnesota — a same-state head-to-head where the comparison comes down to lake-specific differences in depth, watershed, and monitoring history rather than the broader state-level water-quality regime. These two are within a letter of each other on the rubric — Lower Prior Lake (C) versus Spring Lake (D). The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
With grades this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.
Lower Prior Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft.
Spring Lake
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Lower Prior Lake | Spring Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | C (Fair) | D (Poor) |
| Water Clarity | 10 ft | 6.2 ft |
| Phosphorus | 27 µg/L | 64.6 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.8 µg/L | 14.3 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 60 ft | 37 ft |
| Surface Area | 956 acres | 592 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 15 | 15 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Lower Prior Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade C versus Spring Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 10 ft vs 6.2 ft. For fishing diversity, Lower Prior Lake also leads with 15 species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.