Big Woods Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric Big Woods Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 79 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.

Hypereutrophic conditions mean the lake is operating at the upper end of the productivity scale, with all the bloom risk that implies. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. At 31 acres, Big Woods Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Within Carver County's 40 graded lakes, Big Woods Lake ranks 28 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

No invasive species are currently listed at Big Woods Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery is panfish-dominated — bluegill, crappie, and sunfish among the 3 species documented for the lake. 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.