Laura Lake

Laura Lake earns an F: phosphorus readings still being added and clarity at 2.0 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

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. A maximum depth of 21 ft puts Laura Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 22 acres, Laura Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Laura Lake ranks 1 of 2 in Redwood County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Laura Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery is bass-led, with 13 documented species across the lake's records. A documented public access point at Laura Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.