16-0524-00 Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, 16-0524-00 Lake pulls an A: clarity at 15.0 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Minnesota. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

Trophically, 16-0524-00 Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. 16-0524-00 Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 142 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. At 837 acres, 16-0524-00 Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 20.8 miles of shoreline. Among the 128 graded lakes in Cook County, 16-0524-00 Lake ranks 27 — in the top quartile locally.

No invasive species are currently listed at 16-0524-00 Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. 4 fish species are documented at 16-0524-00 Lake, a mixed warm-water community typical for Minnesota lakes of this size. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.