Cowhorn Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric Cowhorn Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 64 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier.

At a TSI of 64, Cowhorn Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Cowhorn Lake ranks 140 of 141 in Itasca County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Cowhorn Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Cowhorn Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. A documented public access point at Cowhorn Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.