Little Turtle Lake

Little Turtle Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Minnesota average.

At a TSI of 51, Little Turtle Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. Little Turtle Lake reaches 29 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. Little Turtle Lake covers 492 acres alongside 4.4 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Within the 141 graded lakes of Itasca County, Little Turtle Lake sits at rank 133, near the bottom of the county list.

No invasive species are currently listed at Little Turtle Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 14 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Little Turtle Lake 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.