Lake of the Woods

Lake of the Woods earns a D — measurements through 2023 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Minnesota norms.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. 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. Within the 11 graded lakes of Lake of the Woods County, Lake of the Woods sits at rank 11, near the bottom of the county list.

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.