Lewis Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Lewis Lake at a C: clarity at 7.0 ft, phosphorus readings still being added, and a TSI of 49 signal an intermediate trophic state.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Lewis Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. Lewis Lake reaches 48 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake's 179 acres and 3.2 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Among the 7 graded lakes in Kanabec County, Lewis Lake sits at rank 2, above the county median.

No invasive species are currently listed at Lewis Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 11 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The lake has a partial ice record — 18 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 8. 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.