Middle Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Middle Lake at a C: clarity at 5.4 ft, 32 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 53 signal an intermediate trophic state. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. A maximum depth of just 11 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. At 368 acres, Middle Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 4.0 miles of shoreline. Among the 35 graded lakes in Kandiyohi County, Middle Lake sits at rank 15, above the county median.

No invasive species are currently listed at Middle Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery is panfish-dominated — bluegill, crappie, and sunfish among the 7 species documented for the lake. A documented public access point at Middle Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.