Blueberry Lake

Blueberry Lake earns an F: phosphorus readings still being added and clarity at 2.0 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. At only 6 ft deep, Blueberry Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. Blueberry Lake covers 125 acres alongside 2.9 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Within the 187 graded lakes of St. Louis County, Blueberry Lake sits at rank 183, near the bottom of the county list.

Blueberry Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 8 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Blueberry Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.