Peterson Lake

Peterson Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Minnesota lake of its size and depth. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

A TSI near 45 places Peterson Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. At 70 ft of maximum depth, Peterson Lake stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. At 99 acres, Peterson Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Peterson Lake sits at rank 23 of 40 in Clearwater County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Peterson Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Peterson Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. A documented public access point at Peterson Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.