Mary Lake vs Ruth Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Ruth Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Mary Lake (C, Fair). Both are in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
C
Mary Lake
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft.
A
Ruth Lake
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Mary Lake | Ruth Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | C (Fair) | A (Excellent) |
| Water Clarity | 4.1 ft | 16 ft |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | 11.5 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft | 39 ft |
| Surface Area | 412.64 acres | 599.2 acres |
| Public Access | No | Yes |
| Fish Species | 13 | 12 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | oligotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Ruth Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Mary Lake's Grade C. Water clarity: 16 ft vs 4.1 ft. For more fish-species variety, Mary Lake edges ahead with 13 documented species.