Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI near 47 places Crescent Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of 28 ft puts Crescent Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. The lake's 755 acres and 14.0 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Within Cook County's 137 graded lakes, Crescent Lake ranks 102 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Crescent Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2025, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Crescent Lake's fishery is anchored by muskellunge, with 10 documented species in total — a destination water for muskie anglers. A documented public access point at Crescent Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.