Lower Mission Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Lower Mission Lake at a C: clarity at 6.9 ft, 36 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 53 signal an intermediate trophic state. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

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. Lower Mission Lake reaches 27 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 732 acres, Lower Mission Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 6.3 miles of shoreline. Within the 120 graded lakes of Crow Wing County, Lower Mission Lake sits at rank 107, near the bottom of the county list.

Lower Mission Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 14 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 long ice-out record — 67 observations on file, with a median ice-out around Apr 16. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.