Crooked Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Crooked Lake pulls an A: clarity at 15.0 ft and 14 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Minnesota. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI near 40 places Crooked Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of 35 ft puts Crooked Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 77 acres, Crooked Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Among the 55 graded lakes in Stearns County, Crooked Lake ranks 1 — in the top quartile locally.

Crooked Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 10 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. No formal public access is documented at Crooked 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.