Paine Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Paine Lake grades a B, with clarity at 4.9 ft and 15 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Minnesota median. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. Paine Lake is a shallow lake at 6 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. At 240 acres, Paine Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 3.3 miles of shoreline. Paine Lake ranks 70 of 77 in Hubbard County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Paine 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 Paine Lake, one of 9 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.