Ed Shave Lake

Ed Shave Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in St. Louis County. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

A TSI value of 40 puts Ed Shave Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. Ed Shave Lake reaches 17 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake is compact at 90 acres, with 2.5 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Within St. Louis County's 215 graded waters, Ed Shave Lake sits at rank 46, near the top of the local distribution.

Ed Shave Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2025, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 6 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Ed Shave 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.