Lower Comstock Lake

On the scoring rubric Lower Comstock Lake grades a D: clarity at 4.5 ft and phosphorus readings still being added keep it in the lower bracket for St. Louis County.

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 bottoms out at 30 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. Lower Comstock Lake covers 160 acres alongside 3.0 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Within the 187 graded lakes of St. Louis County, Lower Comstock Lake sits at rank 171, near the bottom of the county list.

Lower Comstock Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2020, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 13 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.