Dudley Lake

Dudley 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 in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. The lake's 60 ft maximum depth is in the upper tier for Minnesota — deep enough for cold-water fish to find refuge in summer. At 128 acres, Dudley Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 3.2 miles of shoreline. Among the 12 graded lakes in Rice County, Dudley Lake ranks 3 — in the top quartile locally.

No invasive species are currently listed at Dudley Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery is bass-led, with 11 documented species across the lake's records. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. Ice-out has been recorded 14 times at Dudley Lake, with a median around Mar 30. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.