Clear Lake 1

On the scoring rubric Clear Lake 1 grades a D: clarity at 45.1 ft and 174 µg/L of phosphorus keep it in the lower bracket for Goodhue County. High phosphorus is the leading drag on the score — likely from upland agriculture, lawn runoff, or in-lake sediment release.

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. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. At 226 acres, Clear Lake 1 fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 4.9 miles of shoreline. Within the 10 graded lakes of Goodhue County, Clear Lake 1 sits at rank 9, near the bottom of the county list.

No invasive species are currently listed at Clear Lake 1 — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Clear Lake 1, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Clear Lake 1 — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.