Clear Lake

Clear Lake grades an F: water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate poorly, placing it among the most stressed lakes monitored in Minnesota. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

Hypereutrophic conditions mean the lake is operating at the upper end of the productivity scale, with all the bloom risk that implies. A maximum depth of 34 ft puts Clear Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 649 acres, Clear Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 4.4 miles of shoreline. Among the 6 graded lakes in Waseca County, Clear Lake sits at rank 3, above the county median.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Clear Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Walleye are documented at Clear Lake, one of 12 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Clear Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a long ice-out record — 135 observations on file, with a median ice-out around Apr 2. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.