Brownie Lake

Brownie Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Minnesota norms.

A TSI value of 38 puts Brownie Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. A maximum depth of 47 ft puts Brownie Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. The lake is compact at 10 acres, with 0.6 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Among the 95 graded lakes in Hennepin County, Brownie Lake ranks 10 — in the top quartile locally.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Brownie Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. The fishery is panfish-dominated — bluegill, crappie, and sunfish among the 6 species documented for the lake. No formal public access is documented at Brownie Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The lake has a partial ice record — 6 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 4. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.