Buck Lake

Buck Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season.

A TSI near 41 places Buck Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of 31 ft puts Buck Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. The lake's 495 acres and 4.9 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Buck Lake sits at rank 73 of 141 in Itasca County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Buck Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2023, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Walleye are documented at Buck Lake, one of 12 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Buck Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 13 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 21. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.