Elysian (Upper Lake

Elysian (Upper Lake earns an F: phosphorus readings still being added and clarity at 2.0 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

At a TSI of 67, Elysian (Upper Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Within the 6 graded lakes of Waseca County, Elysian (Upper Lake sits at rank 5, near the bottom of the county list.

Elysian (Upper Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Elysian (Upper Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. A documented public access point at Elysian (Upper Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 20 observed ice-outs, centered near Mar 28. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.