Shallow Lake vs Shoal Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Shallow Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Shoal Lake (C, Fair). Both are in Itasca County, Minnesota.
A
Shallow Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota
Crystal clear, you can see 16.4 ft down.
C
Shoal Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Shallow Lake | Shoal Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | C (Fair) |
| Water Clarity | 16.4 ft | 8 ft |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | No data |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 85 ft | - |
| Surface Area | 538.95 acres | 675.85 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | No |
| Fish Species | 12 | 0 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Shallow Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Shoal Lake's Grade C. Water clarity: 16.4 ft vs 8 ft. For fishing diversity, Shallow Lake also leads with 12 species.