Bear Lake

On the scoring rubric Bear Lake grades a D: clarity at 6.0 ft and phosphorus readings still being added keep it in the lower bracket for Stearns County.

At a TSI of 51, Bear Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Within Stearns County's 55 graded lakes, Bear Lake ranks 37 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

No invasive species are currently listed at Bear Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Bear Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.