Boxell Lake

Boxell Lake sits at the top of the Minnesota PCA grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Minnesota. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI near 42 places Boxell Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of 27 ft puts Boxell Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 66 acres, Boxell Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Among the 133 graded lakes in Cass County, Boxell Lake sits at rank 50, above the county median.

No invasive species are currently listed at Boxell Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Boxell 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. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.