Powers Lake

On the scoring rubric Powers Lake grades a D: clarity at 5.8 ft and 187 µg/L of phosphorus keep it in the lower bracket for Washington County. High phosphorus is the leading drag on the score — likely from upland agriculture, lawn runoff, or in-lake sediment release.

At a TSI of 63, Powers Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake bottoms out at 41 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 58 acres, Powers Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Powers Lake ranks 68 of 83 in Washington County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Powers Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 8 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.