Fox Lake

On the scoring rubric Fox Lake grades a D: clarity at 3.7 ft and phosphorus readings still being added keep it in the lower bracket for Pine County. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

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. Fox Lake is a shallow lake at 15 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. At 200 acres, Fox Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 4.5 miles of shoreline. Fox Lake ranks 17 of 19 in Pine County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Fox Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2021, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Fox Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Fox Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.