S. School Section Lake

S. School Section Lake earns a D — measurements through 2024 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. Chlorophyll-a is the limiting factor: even when clarity looks acceptable, the algal community drives the grade down.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. S. School Section Lake reaches 26 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 95 acres, S. School Section Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. S. School Section Lake ranks 69 of 83 in Washington County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

S. School Section Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 9, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. No formal public access is documented at S. School Section Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.