Francis Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Francis Lake at a C: clarity at 6.0 ft, 25 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 51 signal an intermediate trophic state. The lake's weakest score is on Secchi depth — the water looks more turbid than its phosphorus number alone would predict.

At a TSI of 51, Francis Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. Francis Lake reaches 17 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 1,053 acres, Francis Lake is one of the larger lakes in Meeker County, with 7.0 miles of shoreline supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Among the 23 graded lakes in Meeker County, Francis Lake sits at rank 6, above the county median.

Francis Lake is on the Minnesota infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. Walleye are documented at Francis Lake, one of 14 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The lake has a partial ice record — 8 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 5. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.