Island Lake

Island Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Crow Wing County. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Island Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. Island Lake reaches 36 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 126 acres, Island Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 2.6 miles of shoreline. Among the 120 graded lakes in Crow Wing County, Island Lake ranks 15 — in the top quartile locally.

No invasive species are currently listed at Island Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery is bass-led, with 9 documented species across the lake's records. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.