Emily Lake

On the scoring rubric Emily Lake grades a D: clarity at 3.0 ft and 53 µg/L of phosphorus keep it in the lower bracket for Crow Wing County. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. At only 13 ft deep, Emily Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. The lake's 721 acres and 5.1 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Emily Lake ranks 119 of 120 in Crow Wing County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Emily Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 13 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 23 times at Emily Lake, with a median around Apr 15. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.