Ml-Se Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Ml-Se Lake grades a B, with clarity at 24.2 ft and 27 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Minnesota median. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

A TSI near 43 places Ml-Se Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. Ml-Se Lake reaches 42 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. Ml-Se Lake covers 128,250 acres alongside 105.5 miles of shoreline, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Ml-Se Lake ranks 9 of 11 in Mille Lacs County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Zebra mussels have been documented at Ml-Se Lake, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. Ml-Se Lake's fishery is anchored by muskellunge, with 21 documented species in total — a destination water for muskie anglers. A documented public access point at Ml-Se Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a long ice-out record — 105 observations on file, with a median ice-out around Apr 25. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.