Clearwater Lake

Clearwater Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Lake County. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. A maximum depth of 46 ft puts Clearwater Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 640 acres, Clearwater Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 7.6 miles of shoreline. Within Lake County's 142 graded waters, Clearwater Lake sits at rank 1, near the top of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Clearwater Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Clearwater Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.