Nord Lake

Nord Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Aitkin County. 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.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Nord Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. The lake bottoms out at 29 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 418 acres, Nord Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 5.3 miles of shoreline. Nord Lake ranks 9 of 53 in Aitkin County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.

Nord Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2022, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 14 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Nord Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 9 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 14. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.