Erie Lake

Erie Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season.

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. Erie Lake reaches 34 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. Erie Lake covers 190 acres alongside 3.1 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Among the 23 graded lakes in Meeker County, Erie Lake ranks 3 — in the top quartile locally.

Erie Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 12 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Erie Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. 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.