Cody Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric Cody Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 76 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier. 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 just 14 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. At 259 acres, Cody Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 5.1 miles of shoreline. Cody Lake ranks 16 of 17 in Rice County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Cody Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 7 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. No formal public access is documented at Cody Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The lake has a partial ice record — 13 observed ice-outs, centered near Mar 30. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.