Coon Lake

Coon Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Minnesota norms.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. A maximum depth of 27 ft puts Coon Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 1,481 acres, Coon Lake is one of the larger lakes in Anoka County, with 16.3 miles of shoreline supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Among the 24 graded lakes in Anoka County, Coon Lake sits at rank 8, above the county median.

Coon Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. 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. The lake has a partial ice record — 21 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 4. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.