Briar Lake

Briar Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average.

At a TSI of 51, Briar Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. A maximum depth of 21 ft puts Briar Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 79 acres, Briar Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Within the 187 graded lakes of St. Louis County, Briar Lake sits at rank 161, near the bottom of the county list.

No invasive species are currently listed at Briar Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. 3 fish species are documented at Briar Lake, a mixed warm-water community typical for Minnesota lakes of this size. A documented public access point at Briar Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 6 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 24. 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.