Hope Lake

Hope Lake earns an F: 167 µg/L of phosphorus and clarity at 2.0 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

The hypereutrophic status — TSI 73 — reflects sustained heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed and frequent algal pressure. Hope Lake is a shallow lake at 10 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. At 274 acres, Hope Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 3.8 miles of shoreline. Within the 23 graded lakes of Meeker County, Hope Lake sits at rank 22, near the bottom of the county list.

Hope Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Hope Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Hope 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.