Blackface Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Blackface Lake at a C: clarity at 8.0 ft, phosphorus readings still being added, and a TSI of 47 signal an intermediate trophic state. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. A maximum depth of 18 ft puts Blackface Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. The lake's 192 acres and 3.5 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Within Aitkin County's 53 graded lakes, Blackface Lake ranks 33 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Blackface Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery is panfish-dominated — bluegill, crappie, and sunfish among the 5 species documented for the lake. A documented public access point at Blackface Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 20 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 19. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.