Elizabeth Lake

Elizabeth Lake grades an F: water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate poorly, placing it among the most stressed lakes monitored in Minnesota. 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.

At a TSI of 68, Elizabeth Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. Elizabeth Lake is a shallow lake at 9 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. At 1,023 acres, Elizabeth Lake is one of the larger lakes in Kandiyohi County, with 9.2 miles of shoreline supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Elizabeth Lake ranks 31 of 35 in Kandiyohi County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Elizabeth Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2022, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Walleye are documented at Elizabeth Lake, one of 16 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.