Lake of the Woods

Lake of the Woods carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. Phosphorus is the parameter holding the grade back — runoff from the surrounding watershed appears to keep nutrient levels elevated through the summer.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Among the 11 graded lakes in Lake of the Woods County, Lake of the Woods sits at rank 5, above the county median.

Lake of the Woods is on the Minnesota infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Lake of the Woods, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. A documented public access point at Lake of the Woods makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.