Hay Lake

Hay Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

At a TSI of 51, Hay Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. At only 14 ft deep, Hay Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. The lake's 140 acres and 4.5 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Hay Lake sits at rank 24 of 33 in Carlton County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Hay Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 10 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Ice-out has been recorded 7 times at Hay Lake, with a median around Apr 10. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.