Idlewild Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Idlewild Lake at a C: clarity at 5.9 ft, 37 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 54 signal an intermediate trophic state. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

At a TSI of 54, Idlewild Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. 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. At 13 acres, Idlewild Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Among the 95 graded lakes in Hennepin County, Idlewild Lake sits at rank 29, above the county median.

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