Henry Lake

Henry Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Minnesota norms.

At a TSI of 51, Henry Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. A maximum depth of 32 ft puts Henry Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. Henry Lake covers 152 acres alongside 2.0 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Henry Lake ranks 40 of 51 in Douglas County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Zebra mussels have been documented at Henry Lake, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 11 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. No formal public access is documented at Henry Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Ice-out has been recorded 6 times at Henry Lake, with a median around Mar 30. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.