Hawksnest Lake

Hawksnest Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

At a TSI of 66, Hawksnest Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. At only 7 ft deep, Hawksnest Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. At 299 acres, Hawksnest Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 4.6 miles of shoreline. Hawksnest Lake ranks 4 of 5 in Lincoln County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Hawksnest Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Hawksnest Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Hawksnest 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.