Long Lake

Long Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. Long Lake reaches 28 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake is compact at 30 acres, with 0.9 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Long Lake ranks 8 of 55 in Stearns County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.

Long Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. 5 fish species are on record, with panfish making up the recreational core. No formal public access is documented at Long Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.