Clearwater Lake

Clearwater Lake earns an A — every scored parameter (clarity and phosphorus) rates among the best monitored waters in Clearwater County. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI near 43 places Clearwater Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. Clearwater Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 65 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. The lake's 999 acres and 8.6 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Among the 40 graded lakes in Clearwater County, Clearwater Lake ranks 10 — in the top quartile locally.

No invasive species are currently listed at Clearwater Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 14 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Ice-out has been recorded 10 times at Clearwater Lake, with a median around Apr 22. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.