Paulsen Lake

Paulsen Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Polk 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 Paulsen Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. 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. Among the 74 graded lakes in Polk County, Paulsen Lake ranks 11 — in the top quartile locally.

No invasive species are currently listed at Paulsen Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Paulsen Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.