Lower Spunk Lake

Lower Spunk Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year.

A TSI near 45 places Lower Spunk Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of 28 ft puts Lower Spunk Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 179 acres, Lower Spunk Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 3.8 miles of shoreline. Lower Spunk Lake sits at rank 29 of 55 in Stearns County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Lower Spunk Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Walleye are documented at Lower Spunk Lake, one of 13 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The lake has a partial ice record — 9 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 10. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.