Aerie Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Aerie Lake at a C: clarity at 9.0 ft, phosphorus readings still being added, and a TSI of 45 signal an intermediate trophic state.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Aerie Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. A maximum depth of 37 ft puts Aerie Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. Aerie Lake covers 146 acres alongside 3.4 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Aerie Lake sits at rank 110 of 187 in St. Louis County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Aerie Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Aerie Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Aerie Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Ice-out has been recorded 11 times at Aerie Lake, with a median around Apr 23. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.