Elk Lake

Elk Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

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 bottoms out at 15 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 362 acres, Elk Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 4.9 miles of shoreline. Within Sherburne County's 24 graded lakes, Elk Lake ranks 18 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Elk Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 15 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Ice-out has been recorded 9 times at Elk Lake, with a median around Apr 4. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.