Mcavity Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Mcavity Lake pulls an A: clarity at 17.0 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Minnesota. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

Trophically, Mcavity Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. The lake bottoms out at 29 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 147 acres, Mcavity Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 3.4 miles of shoreline. Within Itasca County's 141 graded waters, Mcavity Lake sits at rank 12, near the top of the local distribution.

Mcavity Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 9 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.