Potato Lake

Potato Lake earns an A — every scored parameter (clarity and phosphorus) rates among the best monitored waters in Hubbard County. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.

A TSI near 40 places Potato Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. At 87 ft of maximum depth, Potato Lake stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. With 2,096 acres of surface and 14.8 miles of shoreline, Potato Lake is a large water by Minnesota standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Among the 76 graded lakes in Hubbard County, Potato Lake sits at rank 37, above the county median.

Zebra mussels have been documented at Potato Lake, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 15 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Potato Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a long ice-out record — 30 observations on file, with a median ice-out around Apr 21. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.