Spring Lake vs Upper Prior Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Upper Prior Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Spring Lake. Both are in Scott County, Minnesota.
Spring Lake and Upper Prior 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 sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Spring Lake versus Upper Prior Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
With readings 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.
Spring Lake
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft.
Upper Prior Lake
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Spring Lake | Upper Prior Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 6.2 ft Better | 5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 64.6 µg/L | 38.7 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.3 µg/L | 8.8 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft | 50 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 592 acres | 386 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 15 | 16 Better |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | eutrophic |
A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.
Swap a lake
Compare Spring Lake or Upper Prior Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Upper Prior Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Spring Lake. Water clarity: 5 ft vs 6.2 ft. For fishing diversity, Upper Prior Lake also leads with 16 species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Spring Lake and Upper Prior Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Spring Lake and Upper Prior Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Spring Lake and Upper Prior Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Spring Lake and Upper Prior Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Spring Lake and Upper Prior Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.