Missouri Lake

Missouri Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Minnesota norms.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake is compact at 24 acres, with 0.9 miles of shoreline and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Within Cook County's 128 graded lakes, Missouri Lake ranks 72 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Missouri Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2022, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The lake's fish records list 1 species — a varied community without one dominant gamefish. No formal public access is documented at Missouri Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.