Mud Lake

Mud Lake earns a D — measurements through 2024 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. At only 14 ft deep, Mud Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. Mud Lake covers 2,290 acres alongside 37.8 miles of shoreline, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Mud Lake ranks 16 of 35 in Kandiyohi County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Mud Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Walleye are documented at Mud Lake, one of 13 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Mud 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.