Clearwater Lake

Clearwater Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Clearwater County. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all 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. Clearwater Lake ranks 11 of 40 in Clearwater County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Clearwater Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 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.