Ox Yoke Lake

Ox Yoke Lake earns an F: 396 µg/L of phosphorus and clarity at 2.6 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. 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.

The hypereutrophic status — TSI 77 — reflects sustained heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed and frequent algal pressure. 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 Hennepin County's 95 graded lakes, Ox Yoke Lake ranks 68 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Ox Yoke Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2023, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Ox Yoke Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Ox Yoke Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Ice-out has been recorded 12 times at Ox Yoke Lake, with a median around Mar 29. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.