Kek Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Kek Lake pulls an A: clarity at 19.5 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Minnesota.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. At 130 ft of maximum depth, Kek Lake stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. The lake is compact at 55 acres, with 1.3 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Among the 142 graded lakes in Lake County, Kek Lake ranks 18 — in the top quartile locally.

Kek Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2022, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Kek Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Kek 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.