Mud Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric Mud Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 72 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI above 70 puts Mud Lake in hypereutrophic territory: visible blooms are common, and clarity rarely climbs even in early summer. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Within the 83 graded lakes of Washington County, Mud Lake sits at rank 77, near the bottom of the county list.

No invasive species are currently listed at Mud Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Mud Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.