Clear Lake

Clear Lake grades an F: every scored parameter (clarity and phosphorus) rates poorly, placing it among the most stressed lakes monitored in Minnesota. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

The hypereutrophic status — TSI 85 — reflects sustained heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed and frequent algal pressure. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Among the 6 graded lakes in Stevens County, Clear Lake sits at rank 3, above the county median.

No invasive species are currently listed at Clear Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Clear Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Clear Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. 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.