Grave Lake

Grave Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.

At a TSI of 60, Grave Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. Grave Lake is a shallow lake at 13 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. At 169 acres, Grave Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 2.3 miles of shoreline. Grave Lake ranks 114 of 120 in Crow Wing County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Grave Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery is bass-led, with 9 documented species across the lake's records. No formal public access is documented at Grave Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Ice-out has been recorded 11 times at Grave Lake, with a median around Apr 21. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.