Crane Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Crane Lake grades a B, with clarity at 9.0 ft and 17 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Minnesota median. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Minnesota norms.

A TSI near 45 places Crane Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. Crane Lake reaches 43 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 350 acres, Crane Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 4.5 miles of shoreline. Crane Lake sits at rank 53 of 97 in Otter Tail County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Crane 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 Crane Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Crane Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.