Elms Lake

Elms Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. 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. A maximum depth of 26 ft puts Elms Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 52 acres, Elms Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Among the 19 graded lakes in Isanti County, Elms Lake sits at rank 8, above the county median.

No invasive species are currently listed at Elms Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 13 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The lake has a partial ice record — 18 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 6. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.