Glawe Lake
Becker County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
Glawe Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Minnesota lake of its size and depth. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.
A TSI near 47 places Glawe Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. Glawe Lake reaches 24 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 121 acres, Glawe Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 1.9 miles of shoreline. Within Becker County's 93 graded lakes, Glawe Lake ranks 57 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.
Zebra mussels have been documented at Glawe Lake, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Glawe Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 23 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.2 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Surface Area | 120.91 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 70% |
| Public Access | No |
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.215 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.55 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #57 of 93 lakes in Becker County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Glawe Lake holds Grade B. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ADetroit LakeBecker County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- AMeadow LakeBecker County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ACottage LakeBecker County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ALind LakeBecker County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- BMuskrat LakeBecker County · mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Glawe Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1970-07-09 (Standard Survey).
From the 1970-07-09 survey
Curfman Lake, or Deadshot Bay as it is more commonly known by area residents, is a part of Detroit Lake. There is no obstacle to block the movement of fish between the two lakes. Curfman Lake provides some of the best nursery and spawning habitat found on Detroit Lake for numerous fish species. The lake is most…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Glawe Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CurfmanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Glawe Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0360-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.06 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2020-09-22
Monitoring stations: 1