Hendricks Lake

On the scoring rubric Hendricks Lake grades a D: clarity at 6.2 ft and phosphorus readings still being added keep it in the lower bracket for Lincoln County.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. A maximum depth of just 9 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. With 1,522 acres of surface and 12.6 miles of shoreline, Hendricks Lake is a large water by Minnesota standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Among the 5 graded lakes in Lincoln County, Hendricks Lake sits at rank 2, above the county median.

No invasive species are currently listed at Hendricks Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Hendricks Lake, one of 18 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 — 24 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.