Ames Lake

Ames Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Itasca County. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI near 42 places Ames Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. At 51 ft of maximum depth, Ames Lake stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. At 564 acres, Ames Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 4.6 miles of shoreline. Among the 141 graded lakes in Itasca County, Ames Lake sits at rank 41, above the county median.

No invasive species are currently listed at Ames Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Ames Lake, one of 13 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.